Rex Begonias are prized for their stunning foliage. The cultivar has a wide variety of colors, textures, and forms. Its leaves can have many different shapes, such as hearts, swirls resembling seashells, ivy-like patterns, and more. The rich colors of the Rex Begonia, which are typically a combination of green, pink, and burgundy, set them apart from other begonia species.
They occasionally have grayish-silver metallic undertones. Always inspiring to view! Rex Begonias are friendly, easygoing houseplants with equally appealing aesthetics that are native to tropical regions.
History
In India’s Assam province, Begonia rex was found. It was introduced to the horticulture sector in the 1850s and crossed with other Begonia species. The hybrids of today are descended from these crosses. Asymmetric, ovate, cordite, and palmately lobed are some of the shapes. Metallic sheens may be present in the colors, while spots, stripes, swirls, and streaks may make up the patterns. Leaf lengths range from 8 to 30 cm. Typically, their leaf margins are lobed or serrated.
Plantlets will grow along the cut edge of the leaf pieces when they are set flat on the planting media. Under ideal circumstances, stem cuttings take roughly 20 days to take root.
Rex Begonias Plant Overview
Genus Name: Begonia rex
Common Name: Rex Begonia
Plant types: Houseplants Perennial
Light Part: Sun, Shade
Height: 6 to 20 inches
Width: 10 to 18 inches
Flower Color: Pink, White
Foliage Color Zones: 10, 11, 7, 8, 9
Propagation: Division, Leaf Cuttings
Types of Rex Begonias Plant
Yamileth:
The leaves on Yamileth rex begonias are of average size. They start off dark green and then silver before finally turning dark purple at the borders. It is a compact, bushy plant that grows lushly in pots for indoor plants.
Pair it with red or white geraniums in the garden. Although geraniums are typically thought of as plants that require full sun, if you get them when they are huge and in bloom, they will bloom all summer in part-sun settings.
Cowardly Line:
The leaves on this Rex Begonia species are swirling and fairly enormous in size. With veins that are chocolate-brown, they are a uniform shade of green. Depending on the amount of sun exposure, it can also develop some amber and red tones.
The uniqueness of this cultivar lies in the intriguing leaf features, not in its extreme vibrancy. To appreciate “Cowardly Lion’s” subtleties, plant it close by.
Jurassic Watermelon:
The entire Rex begonia in the Jurassic series is enormous and magnificent. ‘Watermelon’ from Jurassic TM features broad, pointy leaves. The colors, though, are truly what set it apart.
It has a deep burgundy centre at first. Bright pink and then bright green are the colors that emanate from this centre. Uneven white specks can be seen throughout this green color. It has a dark burgundy edge that matches the centre to complete the look
Where to plant Rex Begonias
Rex Begonias are tropical plants, like the majority of begonias, and require warm, humid conditions to flourish. Rex Begonias can be grown outside in pots in areas with sufficient humidity, either in the sun or the shade. They thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 80°F outside in USDA Zones 7 through 12, but when the temperature drops, they must be taken indoors.
Bathrooms and kitchens, which have greater relative humidity levels, will aid in providing them with enough ambient moisture to prevent burned leaf margins. Fans, heaters, and air conditioners should be kept far away from the begonias.
How and When to Plant Rex Begonias
Rex Begonias can be planted or repotted inside at any time of the year, although the warmer spring and summer months are when they grow most actively.
During the summer, when the temperature is well over 60°F and the humidity is high, begonias can be moved outside. Rex Begonias are not cold- or frost-hardy, and even a slight frost will cause them to wither away. Rhizomes should be planted in well-draining potting soil with compost or perlite added to enhance drainage.
How to Care Rex Begonias Tips
Light
Rex Begonias thrive in direct, bright light. When these plants are exposed to too much direct sunlight, their foliage may burn. For the majority of Rex Begonia types, 1,500 to 2,200 foot-candles of light are suitable. For the first two weeks after transplanting, lower-level light can be utilized. For Rex Begonias to continue growing, the day must be 14 hours long.
Many cultivars cease growing in the autumn or winter, some even losing their leaves, especially in colder hardiness zones, and going into a dormant state.
Soil and Water
Rex Begonias are susceptible to overwatering and can soon rot in the absence of well-draining soil. To help with drainage, use soil that drains quickly or add perlite, sand, or small bark chips. Rex Begonias prefer continual wetness with a minor drying between watering during their growing season, even if drainage is crucial.
Give your begonia a good soak, letting any extra water drain away from the roots. When the top layer of soil starts to dry up or the leaves begin to flag (lightly wilt), water the plants. Reduce watering until growth picks up if your plants begin to slow down or drop leaves, which are indicators of dormancy.
Fertilizer
Rex Begonias often don’t do well with salts, and the dissolved salts in “hard” water can be quite harmful to plants growing in poorly drained soil. Use foliage feed to fertilize once a month. Nitrogen is the most crucial nutrient for the growth and continued vibrancy of the leaves.
These plants would thrive best with a balanced fertilizer such as 15-15-15 or 7-9-5 at 100–150 ppm nitrogen. Make sure to clear the soil’s surface of any dead leaves. Pests and illness may be brought on by the decaying leaves.
Temperature and Humanity
Rex Begonias thrive in conditions with somewhat high humidity and temperatures. Freezing conditions will inhibit growth, and the absence of light throughout the winter causes some begonia varieties to enter a dormant stage. 3 The rex and other foliage begonias prefer the same damp, mild habitat that understory ferns do, just like other begonias do.
Common Pests
Botrytis and powdery mildew are two of Rex Cult rum’s primary enemies. White spores on the leaves are a defining feature of many fungal infections. The easiest way to avoid them is to remove dead leaves as soon as possible and make sure the plant receives adequate airflow. Additionally, a systemic fungicide may be used.
Mealy bugs can show up at the junctions of a stem and a leaf or a stem and a rhizome. The answer is to apply household rubbing alcohol to mealy bugs with a cotton swab or to buy predator insects that only eat mealy bugs.
Questions
Can you grow Rex Begonias from seed?
Rex Begonias rarely grow true from seed due to their convoluted lineage. Any seeds that are sown will probably be distinct from the parent plants.
Are big pots required for Rex Begonias?
Although Rex Begonias can get rather big, they don’t need extremely deep or big containers because their roots are quite fibrous.
What is the lifespan of a rex begonia?
Plan to begin leaf cuttings for the following generation by the spring of the third year because most Rex Begonias only last a few years.