How To Look After Begonia Rex?

The begonia rex is a particularly striking houseplant, with some truly eye catching leaves – so you obviously want to keep it in the best condition you can! Lots of people wonder how to look after begonia rex before they get one; we are here to show you exactly how to do that for the best results.

How To Look After Begonia Rex

This is a fairly easygoing plant, but like all of them it has its favorite conditions that it likes in order to thrive.

• Keep it out of direct sunlight. It likes bright light, but it must be indirect to avoid scorching the leaves.
• This plant likes a humid atmosphere – you can stand it on a tray of moistened clay pebbles to allow for extra dampness in the air.
• Although it likes humidity, do not mist this plant as it can cause mildew and mold on the leaves.
• In the summer season, from May to September, you should feed your begonias with a plant food that is high in Nitrogen.
• Avoid overwatering this plant at all costs! It will, however, like its growing medium to be kept on the moist side.
• Reduce the watering in the winter, when the plant should be in its dormant stage and the weather is colder and more damp.
• Do not allow it to get too cold in the winter – it will struggle if temperatures drop below 10 degrees C.
• Keep an eye out for specific pests, such as aphids, spider mites and powdery mildew.

Here is a detailed video showing you how to take care of your begonia rex:

Is Begonia Rex Hard To Care For?

Many houseplants can be very fussy, and you may feel as though you can never get the conditions just right to keep them happy.

Luckily, begonia rex is not one of these types! This happy little houseplant is very easy to take care of.

They have the conditions that they prefer, like all plants, but this plant is actually pretty forgiving, and you can keep it in many different types of condition.

As long as you keep them warm and humid, and out of harsh direct sunlight, they should thrive pretty happily.

Overwatering is one of the biggest problems these plants face. Just make sure that you don’t water it so much that the roots start to rot and you should be laughing!

This plant will definitely let you know if it is not happy; you will notice leaves drooping and dropping off, and a general look of wilting over the whole plant.

However, it is pretty easy to bring back to full health again, as long as it is in the right conditions.

How Often Do You Feed Begonia Rex?

You should feed your begonia rex once a fortnight in the main growing season with some good, all purpose fertilizer to give it a bit of extra support.

Using a fertilizer that promotes foliage is the best idea; these plants are mainly grown for their attractive leaves.

You won’t need to feed them in the winter as the plant will not be using as much nutrients at this time, so give it a break.

Feeding your begonia rex will allow it to put more of its energies into growing those beautiful leaves which we all know and love!

Plants that grow in pots are especially grateful for a feed; they are unable to spread their roots far to find more nutrients, so it must be added to their soil.

What Is The Lifespan Of Begonia Rex?

If you love this plant and want to keep it around for as long as you can, you may be disappointed – begonia rex only have a lifespan of 1-2 years.

However, you can keep the plant going for longer by propagating it – this is super easy and will reward you with extra begonias!

You can propagate this plant by taking leaf cuttings – this is a really easy way of making sure that you have a constant supply of your favorite begonia.

1. Fill a small tray with dampened potting mix – don’t soak it completely, but make sure the surface is moist.
2. Pick a leaf from the parent plant – this should be a strong, healthy leaf, with plump veins on the underside.
3. Cut the leaf off the main plant, then snip off any leftover stem so you have just the leaf left.
4. Turn the leaf over, and with a sharp knife make little cuts across 5-6 of the largest veins. This is where the new plants will sprout from.
5. Flip the leaf back over, and pin it down into your potting mix. T pins are ideal because they won’t go all the way through the leaf and will hold it flat.
6. Cover the container with a plastic bag or even cling film, to create the humid environment that this plant loves so much.
7. Water the soil once a week, and mist the leaf daily. Remember to keep it in a warm spot too!
8. After around 6 weeks, you should start to see small plants starting to emerge from the areas with cut veins.
9. When the new plants have at least 2 leaves and are around 3 inches high, they are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots.

What Are The Common Problems With Begonia Rex?

This plant is pretty easygoing, but like all plants it does have some problems.

• Pests. Although it is not too susceptible to the usual creepy crawlies, aphids and mealybugs do like to make a meal of it.
• Overwatering. Too much wet will cause your begonia rex’s roots to rot, and will eventually kill the whole plant.
• Direct light. It likes a bright growing spot, but being placed directly in the sunlight will damage the leaves of this tropical beauty.
• Mold. Begonia rex are vulnerable to mold leaves, and can also pick up powdery mildew surprisingly easily.

This comprehensive article shows you some of the most common problems with your begonia rex, and what to do about them.

Final Thoughts

As you will know if you have one of these beauties in your house, begonia rex is a truly lovely little plant.

Having the best ideas on how to care for it is the best way to keep it alive and thriving, so make sure you follow these tips for the best results.