Rex Begonia
My newest addition. Rex Begonia.
I’ve just discovered Rex Begonias for myself. They are a bit needy, but well worth the care. The rex variety is bred for foliage, not for flowers. Notice the beautiful rings of color on the leaves, and the total absence of any blooms. Most gardeners will advise to cut off the flowers when they appear, as they pull much energy away from the rest of the plant.
Begonia Rex are bred for their colorful foliage, not for their flowers.
Rex begonias (known also by their latin name, the reversed Begonia Rex) originated in India. The original mother species from which all present day begonias hail is now extinct in the wild. Imagine the humid, warm coastal and wooded lowland regions regions in India, and you can begin to piece together a picture of what the begonia habitat must resemble. Far from a dry desert, these areas of India are humid and shady, with an ocean breeze. Trying to recreate this environment might be easiest with a terrarium, like a ten-gallon fish tank.
They require near constant conditions. In order to provide the plant with constant light, try placing it in the back of a well-lit room in the Summer. Direct Summer sun can damage the leaves. In the Winter, find the sunniest place in the house, and leave it there until the weather turns again.
It is important to keep the soil moist, but to not over water. Over watering can cause leaf drop, while under watering can cause the plant to wilt. (I told you they were needy). I’ve found the best watering schedule to be a bit of water every third day, with daily misting. High humidity is very important, so misting should never be skipped. Skipping a few days of water can cause the colorful leaves to crinkle up.
Unfortunately, begonias are not particularly long lived. Expect them to last only a year or two. It’s easy to propagate them. Simply cut off a stem close to the base of the plant. Submerge it in water for a day or two before planting. This should take to the soil within a few days.
These plants wouldn’t do well sitting on your front porch or back patio, exposed to the elements. They are a container plant best left indoors, protected from harsh weather conditions often found in every region of the contiguous US.
The best soil to use is African Violet soil. They need much the same conditions, as well as the same fertilizer. If you wanted to build a terrarium, these two flowers would make perfect neighbors. Just be sure to use dwarf begonias, as the large varieties can have leaves up to a foot across!