Rex Begonia Plant Propagation. The Begonia rex is one of the most beautiful houseplants out there. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This article contains descriptions and illustrations of the various types of propagation. Propagation of the rex begonia is much easier than actually caring for the plant as a whole. Make sure at least one leaf scar, leaf stem base or growing bud is on each … If you want to spread the Begonia love or just expand your own collection, you’ll be happy to know that most Begonias are super easy to propagate. Stem cuttings are the easiest method of propagating cane begonias. Plants such as Streptocarpus, Sansevieria, Eucomis, Sinningia (syn. Does anyone know how I could propagate this plant using … How to Propagate a Begonia. The original Begonia rex had dark leaves with wonderful silver designs. Because it’s so difficult to space Begonia seeds properly, you’ll have to carefully separate and transplant them once they’ve got some leaf growth. Marked by dramatic colors - often a mix of green, pink or burgundy - the Rex Begonia can also include metallic shades of grayish silver. Rooting tips (the plant tops) is simple, and can be done in much the same way as rooting tip cuttings for other plants (see, for example, the lesson on kohleria).). It has a high success rate, and new plants are formed in about 6 months. Very much appreciated! To start your Begonia seeds, use sterile soil in a seedling tray and simply sprinkle the seeds on top. Propagating a jade plant | From stems or... How to propagate string of hearts | Ceropegia... Brown tips on spider plant: Causes & solutions. This is my first begonia Rex and it seems it should be real simple too. How about the polka dot Begonia, one of the many colorful Rexes, a beefsteak Begonia or even a spiral-leaved cultivar? They are tough, evergreen groundcover plants with thick creeping rhizomes that have shallow roots and low water needs. What's more, they actually love shade! 5. Did you know? Some types of propagation require more skill than others or more specialized conditions. About the Rex Begonia. I've been experimenting with propagating begonias for a few years but never knew I could water root a leaf until last year. In the illustration the rhizome is cut into two inch sections. Prevention is as easy as following a proper watering schedule and water only when the top of the soil is dry. If you go for the latter, you can even make tiny cuts/nicks in each leaf vein to prompt new growth from multiple spots instead of just the petiole. Thank you. Most rhizomes can be rooted directly into your potting mix without any special considerations. Rhizome cuttings are a type of stem cutting. We're back this week with Steve Rosenbaum of Steve’s Leaves to talk begonia propagation, which is easier than you think! Rhizome cuttings are a type of stem cutting. Rex Begonias are not difficult to divide and propagate, which comes in handy as individual plants usually don’t have a very long lifespan. Locate the main veins on the begonia leaf and cut from the edge of the leaf all the way back to where the stem once was. Have a look at the full Begonia propagation guide. Cane Begonias: These produce long bamboo-like canes from a central clump, and pendulous clumps of … I have a somewhat large Rex Begonia Plant and I am in need of two. Rhizome Cuttings. Once you see the first leaf growth pop up, you’ll know that your propagation attempt is a success. Fortunately they're part of the rhizomatous begonia group and that means you can take leaf-cuttings and save money. Propagate by leaf cuttings or sections of rhizome; No pruning required. If the soil is too wet Rex begonia can also develop root rot. Rhizomatous begonias have similar roots to normal plants but produce large puffy rhizome out of which the roots grow. The easiest way to go with this is to use the leaves whole. Different Types of Rex Begonia Plant . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We’re going to walk you through how to propagate using root division. Taking whole leaf cuttings is a suitable method of propagation for plants such as Sinningia (syn. The easiest and most straightforward way to propagate rex begonias is by whole leaf cuttings. Fear not! That’s it! You can root a Rex begonia leaf in water, the root forms at the base of the stem. Thank you. This is all I needed. Growth form: Perennial herb with fleshy, horizontal rhizomes that often grow aboveground. Fibrous begonias have roots like most plants. The Rex cultorum group originated from an Indian species, Begonia rex. I'd like to propagate this plant, but don't have 6 months to do a leaf cutting propagation technique. These plants were noted for their dark leaves with prominent silvery grey bands. Put it in some good potting soil. You can propagate Begonias by using stem cuttings. Ask a Question forum: How to propagate a Rex Begonia from a rhizome. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer flowers or foliage: there is a Begonia type to suit every houseplant enthusiast. Let’s go into the different ways to take a Begonia cutting. Methods of reproduction of room begonia. A Begonia rex needs fast-draining soil. […], […] Tip: Want to know all the ins and outs of the various ways to propagate Begonias? Propagate by leaf cuttings or sections of rhizome; No pruning required. The Rex cultorum group originated from an Indian species, Begonia rex. Begonia propagation from rhizome If you decided to go for the rhizome method, prepare a seedling tray as described in the previous paragraph. Or do I need to just remove the remaining stem from the plant? You can feed Rex Begonias every two weeks or so using a diluted regular balanced houseplant fertilizer during the growing season (Spring through Fall). Some types of propagation require more skill than others or more specialized conditions. The rhizome is cut apart and divided in order to propagate new plants. Propagating in soil is preferred by some because it eliminates the possibility of the vulnerable mini plants having trouble adjusting to soil after having been in water. Let me show you the secret to propagating rex begonias from leaf cuttings. I have a somewhat large Rex Begonia Plant and I am in need of two. Cut off the leaf stalk, then, using a sharp blade, carefully cut through the major veins, spacing cuts about 2.5cm (1in) apart. One way begonias make babies is with a little help from gardeners like us. It isn’t too good to be true! Dip that in some rooting hormone if you have it at hand. The bottom half of the rhizome section will sprout roots while the top half will sprout new leaves, making for a whole new little plant. Columbus, OH . I’m going to try all three methods. This method involves cutting leaves in multiple places across leaf veins. My favorite method is to propagate in water, since I like the look of pretty vases with plants growing in them. If you’ve decided to propagate your Begonia using leaves, which is possible with most of the ones that are grown as houseplants, your easiest option is to use a plastic seedling tray. Clean a sharp scissors or small garden pruner. Conditions: Considered perennials in tropical and semitropical climates, Rex begonias are frost tender and typically grown as annuals or houseplants in North America. Rex begonias (Begonia Rex-cultorum group), with their large, colorful leaves, can be propagated from leaf cuttings or seeds. Leaf cuttings are the easiest method of propagating rex begonias. Around 1850, this species was introduced into cultivation and rapidly became popular as a houseplant. I like to take leaf cuttings because it’s so fascinating to watch a single leaf sprout a whole bunch of babies. This can be done by tip cutting, by rhizome, or by leaf cuttings. The foliage of rex begonias is particularly colorful, coming in all imaginable shades of green, red, silver, purple, brown and pink, often with metallic highlights. The leaves grow on short leaf stalks, from the plant’s underground rhizomes. If you’ve decided to take stem cuttings from your Begonia, propagation will be an absolute breeze. Related plants How to grow Begonia × hiemalis from cuttings To sanitize the implement, wipe it with a solution that is at least 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. There are various ways to take a cutting from your Begonia to use as a starter for new plants. Like cane, shrub and other stem cuttings however, you do have to use cutting with nodes. Rex begonias can also be propagated by pinning a leaf down to the bedding mix and making small incisions in the leaf veins, or by inserting a leaf (with a petiole) directly in… The first thing you do is to dig up your Begonia rex plant. Then, place the vase or glass containing the plant in a light and warm spot to provide the perfect growing conditions. Contents. Joan enjoyed growing Rex begonias so much she began propagating them herself. I’ve been propagating succulents for years. Preparing rex begonia leaves for propagating is a matter of preference because you have several approaches, all of which result in root formation. This species is typically propagated by leaf cuttings. Provide plenty of light and keep moist but not overwatered/soggy. Begonias only have a life span of about 2 to 3 years on average. It’s usually an easy process if you know what steps to take. 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