Begoniaxrex-cultorum
Rex begonia houseplants , Begoniaxrex - cultorum , are living prowess – extravagantly colored , dramatically patterned , vivacious , and perhaps shimmery , depend on which character you grow .
Contemplating their puckered , crinkly , whorled leaves can challenge a dour mood or your preconceptions about botanical Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and colour .
I own several of these museum - lineament indoor begonia , and I delight them so much I am willing to provide the temperate to high sustainment they involve to thrive .
Photo by Rose Kennedy.
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alfresco of USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12 , rex begonia are commonlygrown as houseplantsthat may pass the warm months outside .
They may also be grown alfresco as yearly . It can be catchy to cater the humidity they prefer and to deliver the specific amounts of light and piss they require .
Photo by Rose Kennedy.
Are rex begonias easy to care for ? Not really . Are they worth the extra effort ? Absolutely .
But do n’t take my word for it , or at least not yet . Let ’s get to have it away this hybrid begonia variety better before you decide whether it ’s the houseplant for you .
I ’ll try on to keep my gushing to a lower limit as I share tips for grow and manage for rex begonia , but I ca n’t promise . Here ’s what I ’ll embrace :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Rex Begonias?
Rex begonia are herbaceous hybrids most often grown indoors . They are hardy perennials suited to out-of-door growing year - round only in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12 .
In this guidebook we ’ll focus on growing this variety as a houseplant , whether you pick out to move it indoors in the cool months or maintain it inside year round .
Rex begonia are renowned for their flamboyant foliage . The blooms that they produce are midget , and considered insignificant .
Most varieties spread via rhizomes . But rex begonias areclassified separatelyfrom other rhizomatous begonia because they have glossy leave and postulate a high stage of care .
Most of these subtropic plants have slow , rounded , or teardrop - influence leaf that acquire three to six inches long or wide , depending on the assortment .
Many types have a metallic surface or are silver - colour , while others have what I would call a matte polish in light-green , gray , or pastel hue .
Crinkled , puckered , or veined leafage signalize other kind , which can also sport splotches , pronounced veins , or contrasting - color leaf gross profit margin , alone or in combination with other patterns .
To name all the potential folio colors and combinations would make me vocalise like Bubba Blue reciting potential runt preparations to Forrest Gump , but a few of my favorites include lavender , cream , deep red , gray , and taupe .
It ’s easy to see plant breeders have had a field of operations day with rex begonia cross , and you should look forward to lots of beautiful , sometimes zany practice and colouration among the more than 500 named cultivars in this mathematical group .
Before you get going a inclination of your favorite patterns , let ’s delve into the account of this striking houseplant .
A Note of Caution:
Rex begonias contain an indissoluble calcium oxalate that is toxic to dog and cats .
While some is produced in the leaves and halt , the highest concentrations are found in the rhizomes and root below the soil surface .
symptom of intoxication in heel and cats include vomiting and salivation . If your pet has ingested any portion of your houseplant , call your veterinarian right away .
In summation to keeping the plants where pets ca n’t crunch on them , check that kids wo n’t be tempted to sample one of the pretty leafage .
One nibble will get an unpleasant whiz in the mouth , so people and most pets are unlikely to continue eating after that bit .
If you ’re repot or root male monarch begonia rhizomes , wear glovesto avoid skin irritation .
Cultivation and History
B.xrex - cultorumbelongs to theBegoniagenus first distinguish by Franciscan monastic and botanist Charles Plumier in 1700 . At least 200 species had been name as of 1850 .
One eccentric of begonia , B. rex , was aboriginal to the northeastern Native American state of Assam and brought to England in 1856 .
A perhaps apocryphal story has Belgian horticulturist Jean Linden amount across the fabulous leaf of wildB. rexgrowing intertwined with an orchidaceous plant bring to a London auction room .
Linden purchased the orchid and begonia together and offeredB. rexfor sale commercially in 1858 .
The king begonia we love today in finish is not this wildB. rexbut one of many hybrids bred withB. rexas one of the parent plants .
The Rex Cultorum group was first described in 1920 , but the act of varieties useable has increased exponentially in the intervening hundred .
form that result from a hybridisation withB. evansianawere marvelous , and other crosses created cultivar that grew upright or had brainy violent leave-taking , spiral patterns , or pull up stakes with velvety surface .
One ready to hand manner to categorise them is by size .
The leaves of the small types are about three inch in diam , average range from three to six inches , and the large male monarch begonia have leaf that are six inches across or larger .
Most cultivar are rhizomatous , but a few are not .
Breeders and commercial-grade growers are still take a field solar day with rex begonias . Modern cultivar abide by popular home design color trend and offer hundreds of dissimilar patterns and shapes . But do n’t lease this wide array make you dizzy !
You ’ll only need one or two king begonia for daze wintertime colour indoors , or to enliven a terrace container garden during the summer to return to a sun parlor shelf in the wintertime .
Happily , with all the coloring material , approach pattern , and shapes usable , you ’re bound to retrieve a combination that suits you , and that ’s available for sale .
Rex Begonia Propagation
Whether you ’re young to this indoor plant or have name a variety you want for your own , there are instantaneous as well as more leisurely ways to circulate rex begonia .
From Seed
regrettably there are three strike against seek to grow rex begonias from germ .
First , the plants are hybrid , so those that sprout from economise seed will not grow reliable to the parent plant .
Second , the semen are practically microscopical , so they ’re nearly impossible to do by carefully for embed .
Third , seminal fluid are generally unavailable commercially .
And if you manage to overtake those three obstacles by save seeds independently , working with tweezers and a magnifying glass , it will take at least six months of TLC to generate a plant life . ( Oops , that makes four smash . )
But maybe you ’re up for a challenge ? sow seed can also lead in new and tremendous cultivars , the product of pollination and sexual facts of life .
If you ’ve been able to retrieve or save seeds and want to give it a go , find general operating instructions forstarting seeds indoors in our guide .
But do keep in mind that rex begonia requires light to germinate , so the seeds should rest on the surface of the rise sensitive .
From Rhizomes
Instead of wasting metre and vitality on seed starting , I ’d recommend buying pocket-sized plant to uprise to maturity or cutting parts of the rhizome to root if you already have access to fledged specimens .
If the rhizomes already have etymon and foliage attached , you just need to pot them up and watch out them grow !
Use a clean shaving tongue to slice a leafless piece from the end of the rhizome , then lay it on a sportsmanlike surface out of sunshine to dry for a few hours or overnight .
Place the rhizome cutting on top of a pre - moistened , holey , peat - base potting commixture in a humble ejaculate - starting cell or flowerpot with drain holes .
Press it so the root side of the rhizome is below the grease surface and the top part peeks above .
Place the container in a humid post with bright , indirect ignitor and keep the get mix moist but not moist with a spray feeding bottle . The rootstalk should begin growing ancestor and leaves within a few week .
you’re able to hotfoot the process by arranging a plastic bag or terrarium top over the container to hold in wet .
The process is quicker still if a plant in your self-possession already has rhizomes with solution and perhaps a few leaves that you’re able to divide and repot .
This is a task well done during the growing season in late natural spring or summertime so the plant life have a fortune to regenerate before wintertime quiescence .
Gently tip the plant from its mint , sweep some dirt from the tooth root , and sever section of the rhizome with leaf and roots attach .
Repot them like a shot in the same growing mixture and shallow pots you ’d employ for older plants .
They should adjust to their new situation and resume growth within a week .
From Leaf Cuttings
It takes consistent tending and about six months to propagate viable male monarch begonia from leaf cutting , but that ’s often the upright style to farm more of a darling cultivar or expand your appeal when other collectors live nearby and are unforced to share press clipping .
Snip off a leaf at the base of the shank , and off the stem . Make four to five small , quarter- to half - column inch cuts through the independent mineral vein on the underside of the leaf .
Prepare a shallow pot filled with moist potting soil , and pin the folio onto the surface of the stain using propagation pins , like theseavailable via Amazon .
Propagation Pins
Gently becloud the surface of the leaf and keep it in a lovesome , humid location , misting daily .
After about six to eight weeks , you should see minuscule plants emerge from the leaf swing . When they are around three to four inches marvelous , you’re able to transplant them into single pots .
Transplanting
When rooted cuttings or purchase plant life are quick to go in newfangled containers , scoop out enough stain so you may place the rhizome so it ’s about midway seeable above the grime .
Backfill with potting mix and firm it with the blackguard of your bridge player . expect to irrigate it in until the next day .
For the occasional rex begonia diversity that does n’t grow via rhizomes , plant life so the stem is at the same height as it was in the pot or cell it ’s already raise in .
How to Grow Rex Begonia
You do n’t need any special abilities to grow rex begonia indoors , but you do need to design ahead .
When you satisfy their produce necessary , they ’ll unremarkably reply by acquire beautiful foliage and boom for at least three years .
And once you catch the hang of how care for rex begonias take issue from grow other subtropic houseplants – and other begonia species – it pose much easy to keep the plant felicitous and goodish .
These are the areas to focalise on :
Soil
The first footstep is providing a suitable growing medium . All varieties ofB.xrex - cultorumgrow best in a holey , peat - base sensitive that will drain easily .
you could utilize a develop mix specially explicate forAfrican violetsstraight from the base .
African Violet Potting Mix
A two - pack of eight - quart bags of African violet potting mix isavailable from Miracle - Gro via Amazon .
If you have an ordinary potting mix available , you could amend it with perlite and/or commercial-grade compost to improve drain .
Containers
Most rex begonia kind are rhizomatous . You ’ll require to choose a shallow , wide container with drainage muddle so the rhizomes can circularise and sprout leaf , and the shallow soil can drain freely .
They do n’t heed if the pot is larger than the root ball , but once the rhizomes take up press against the side of the container or spilling over , it ’s clock time to prune , divide , or repot .
I wish the shallow unglazed terra cotta pots you sometimes see commercialize for grow succulents or sell as “ incandescent lamp planter . ”
Potting mix in unglazed clay dries out quickly , which is safe since plants in this begonia radical are susceptible to etymon rot from overwatering .
Terra Cotta Pot
A desirable terra cotta pot eight inches wide and just under four inch marvelous with drainage hole and a disk isavailable from Amazon .
Learn more about pick out grass or other container for plants in our guide .
Light
This is one of the more demanding aspects of growing male monarch begonia , especially any that will spend all their metre indoors . You see , they need heap of light , but they ca n’t handle lineal sunlight .
You must provide a bit about a foot to five feet from a sunny window , or in a windowpane that receives bright light but is n’t disclose to direct rays .
You may needsupplemental grow lightsindoors to surrender the right amount .
If you do place the plant life near a sunny windowpane that only casts light on one side , rotate the jackpot a quarter turn once a week so the plant does n’t become lopsided as it grows toward the light .
If your king begonias will spend the tender months outdoors , they can wield a part or even full specter locating .
Gradually get them used to the reduced light with a hebdomad or so of “ indurate off ” before post them outside full clock time . They ca n’t digest direct sunlight any better alfresco than they can at heart , so choose their location wisely .
Temperature
temperature around 70 ° F by day and 60 ° F overnight will encourage the unspoilt growth .
you may move the plants outdoors for the warm months , but only once the temperature is dependably above 60 ° F at dark . Bring them back inside a few weeks ahead of predicted coolheaded weather condition .
Gardeners with scorch hot summers also have to worry about eminent temperatures if bringing plants outdoors .
If temperatures surpass 80 ° F , the plants will be happier indoors in a controlled climate .
Humidity
temperature in the desirable range , an idealistic potting mix , and perfect lighting will all stand for little if you ca n’t provide ample humidity for rex begonias .
They like 50 percent or more , and the leaves will quickly develop dark-brown edge or die off when the humidity is n’t copious .
Indoors , you’re able to elevate humidness levels by commit plants in the kitchen or lav , where it ’s usually more humid than the residual of the home .
Or believe set a saucer of water and pebble beneath the pots to vaporise and increase wet in the air . Just verify the bottom of the pot rests on the pebbles without make striking with the water so you do n’t drench the beginning .
While it may seem like a good mind , do n’t cloud the industrial plant like a shot or they ’ll peril contracting powdery mould cause by wet leaf . Also , spraying only increases humidness in effect if you’re able to do it several times a solar day .
If you are really attached to providing that 50 per centum humidity and live where the atmospheric condition or the winter air is dry , you might want to consider using an galvanic humidifier .
Water
The heedful choice of container and potting mix pays off when it comes to providing optimal wet levels .
Rex begonias involve ordered moisture , but the leaves will turn yellow and the plant could develop root putrefaction if you overwater .
point to allow for grime that feel evenly moist , not excessively wry or soggy . It ’s a good idea to use awatering canto piddle at the soil level .
fill up the plantation owner until surplus runnel out of the drain holes at the bottom and then get it drain for another 15 proceedings or so .
Be sure to discard water that accumulates in the discus below . Rex begonias do n’t like wet feet .
Between waterings , let the top inch or so of the soil become ironic , using amoisture meteror your pinky to tick .
If you have operose water like I do , assure your potting mixing is well - draining . make out with salt deposits from hard water will sabotage the plants . Consider using percolate water instead .
Fertilizing
Provide a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month throughout the spring and summer growth period , ca-ca sure to water the plants and let them run out before and after coating .
Once the industrial plant accede dormancy in recent fall or early wintertime , you may lay off fertilize .
Bonide Liquid Plant Food
One good choice is Bonide ’s 10 - 10 - 10 NPK liquidity works food , available in an eight - snow leopard containervia Amazon .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
A couple of maintenance chore are critical for level-headed , colourful king begonia foliage .
Always remove any idle leaves from the surface of the soil as soon as you acknowledge them . This will keep disease and sure insect pestis at bay .
If you are growing the plants outdoors in the quick months , make certain to bring in them indoors once temperature below 60 ° F are predicted .
They are n’t remotely ice broad , and while they could in all likelihood live merrily outdoors at somewhat lower temperature , there ’s no addition from pushing the limit – if they get too moth-eaten , they ’ll break .
Be certain to check outdoor plant life for bug before you bring them within .
When you ’ve chosen a rhizomatous type , note when the rhizome make the side of the mess . At that point , you ’ll need to either repot into a container a few inches wider or snip some of the settle rhizome sections to propagate raw plants .
The other eccentric of rex begonia will benefit from repotting once the stems are so closelipped to the edges of the batch that the soil no longer catch wet or drains properly . Be indisputable to pick out a container just a size of it or two larger than the previous jackpot .
You wo n’t need to crop unless you ’re growing an upright miscellanea , in which case you should clip off the base at the crest when leaves are register dark-brown tips .
Some folk also wish to prune a few stalk from the upright types to keep them from outgrow their container .
You do n’t need to purloin confidential information when the plants are a few inches grandiloquent , but it will encourage branch .
Rex Begonia Cultivars to Select
Just thinking about all those colorful , pretty , no - two - diverseness - similar type ofB.xrex - cultorummakes me smile .
But do n’t get too hung up on a specific cultivar – or at least endeavor to circumscribe yourself to only a couplet of “ must - wealthy person . ”
I mention this because there are scads of varieties out there , some with hallmark or catchy cultivar names , but a specific type is n’t always gentle to find if you have your heart gear up .
Happily , there are usually other form that look quite interchangeable or have the same colour scheme , and these lookalikes may be waiting at your local baby’s room or an online venue .
In my experience , dozens of dissimilar rex begonias are sold without a specific cultivar name – only a tag that enounce “ rex begonia ” with an challenging and colorful foliage plant in the pot beneath it . I have several of these , and they ’re beautiful .
Some reputable agriculturist also sell “ grower ’s choice ” bundles of three to five type . They are fun and low-priced , but the seller picks which ones you receive from their inventory .
For those seeking named cultivars , I commend these :
Harmony’s Fire Woman
‘ Fire womanhood ’ from Harmony Begonias is a good variety to start with , or as I would say , a worthy gateway plant for becoming obsessed with rex begonias .
It is lively and pretty without being overly striking , and its normal and colors are more low-keyed than those of other varieties you may desire to prove once you have more experience withB.xrex - cultorum .
raise eight to 14 column inch marvellous and spread out six to eight inches in a mound shape , it will promptly fulfill an average - size quite a little with its Catharanthus roseus - edged , majestic - veined , silvery - clean leaves that lark a deep purple fireburst radiating from each midpoint .
‘ Fire Woman ’ will complement vining or upright indoor plant that are mostly gullible or a substantial color .
Once you ’ve had a chance to admire its beauty for a few weeks , you may be ready for other variety with bolder bolshie or metal sheens , twisted or deeply cut off leaf shapes , or brazen patterns .
Harmony ’s ‘ Fire Woman ’
Or perhaps this mild - mannered rex begonia will steer you towards others with average - shaped , unit of ammunition leaves , or subtler hues of moss green or taupe . Who be intimate ?
‘ Fire Woman ’ is available in a four - in potfrom Sacred etymon Nursery via Walmart .
Harmony’s Venetian Red
The painterly splotches of green , light bolshy , and dark garden pink on this variety ’s heart - shaped , crinkly , jagged - edge leave-taking would be at domicile in an Impressionist painting .
The burnished the light , the more pronounced the red hue become , while low light encourage a signature rex begonia metal shininess .
Harmony ’s ‘ Venetian Red ’
This is a nice choice for a desk or bookshelf that offers collateral light since it grows a relatively compact six to eight inches marvellous .
A four - column inch muckle of ‘ Venetian Red ’ from Harmony Begonias isavailable via Walmart .
Jurassic Megalo Croc
One of the king begonia that acquire good , Jurassic Megalo ™ Croc attains a stature of 20 to 24 in and spreads as much as 20 inches to drape dramatically over the position of a planter .
The parting are shaped like a cross between a teardrop and a star , with deep cuts in their dark margins .
This cultivar from the Jurassic Megalo ™ serial publication has one of the adorable silvery practice you could chance , with a silver tear or paisley shape outlined in forest jet with flecks of ash grey on the green stria .
Jurassic Melago ™ Croc
Assuming you do n’t have a prehistorical - themed amusement park where you could display this mixed bag , I ’d recommend register it off beneath a fanlight in a eminent - ceilinged foyer or set it as a backcloth for an arrangement of humidness - loving houseplant in a sunroom or on the terrace .
An eight - inch pot of Jurassic Megalo ™ Croc isavailable from Walmart .
Jurassic Jr. Arctic Twist
This plant life ca n’t withstand cold and is a late trademarked diversity – not in the least prehistorical .
But the catchy name is still warranted . Jurassic Jr. ™ Arctic Twist is a cool looker that barrack the same sort of fixation from indoor gardeners that untested kids have for dinosaurs .
Those foliage ! They ’re ruffled and spiral from the teardrop shape ’s centre of attention , something breeder call a “ twist . ”
The mineral vein are a striking purple , as are the edges and a patch of dark in the center .
The quietus of each leaf is a wintry silver - blanched that is duller in bright light and more metallic in down in the mouth light .
Jurassic Jr. ™ Arctic Twist
This variety ’s leave-taking are about half the sizing of those on other plants in the Jurassic serial , and it branch more than they do .
The plant turn up to 16 inch magniloquent and spreads as much as 20 inches if you do n’t trim down it back .
Its mellowness looks right in front of a marvelous tropical plant like aparlor palm tree , on the storey , or in the corner of a terrace .
A two - pack of six - column inch pots of Jurassic Jr. ™ Arctic Twist isavailable from Walmart .
Managing Pests and Disease
Along with assuring the goodly plants with the most bodacious color , most of the top scheme for growing rex begonias will also foreclose louse pests and diseases from piddle an appearance .
These admit providing ample humidity and space for gentle wind circulation , potting in unimaginative , well - run out potting mix , and never overwatering .
As for the possible pests and diseases , it ’s not an across-the-board list .
But pestis can sometimes do serious damage or impart disease , and disease can kill the plants outright . It ’s important to know what you ’re up against , so here ’s what to watch for :
Pests
Because of the potential inauspicious symptoms due to soluble calcium oxalate in its leave and rootstock , rex begonia generally are n’t eaten by coney or cervid , even if they ’re growing on a patio approachable via nearby woodlands . But they do attract two common houseplant pestis .
Mealybug nymphs ( Pseudococcidae ) will thrust the leaves and husk , and secrete honeydew melon that encourage emmet andsooty mould .
It ’s important to detect them before they ’ve proliferated , so ensure to check the nooks and crevice , and especially the “ twisted ” leafage , to attend for adults and ballock mountain .
A hand-held magnifying glass or a young ( but not squeamish ) proportional with sharp eyesight are good reference of assistance .
It ’s jolly promiscuous to remove just a few mealybugs with a cotton pad tone down with rub alcohol . Turn to our guide for more backsheesh on discover and coping with mealybugs .
When it ’s hot and dry out , beware of spider soupcon that fertilise on leaf and leave behind behind little yellow or off - white Lucy in the sky with diamonds .
If your plant has a large infestation , they can make so much damage the plant drops leaves or start spiraling towards its end .
you’re able to use insecticidal Georgia home boy to get rid of the tinge , but it ’s round-eyed to ensure your rex begonia are acquire in ample humidity , even throughout brief visit outdoors .
I ’m also careful to examine any plant before motivate them back indoors in the crepuscule .
It ’s easier to remove wanderer mites outside than allow them indoors where they ’ll also have memory access to your other plants .
translate more about winning the conflict with wanderer tinge in our guide .
Diseases
Rex begonia are a bit particular about needing at least 50 percent humidity , well - draining stain , and ample water but no “ pissed foot ” from standing in accumulated piss halt in the saucers beneath their pots .
You in all probability wo n’t be surprised to pick up that wet management will also help you to prevent these three common diseases :
have by the bacteriumXanthomonas axonopodispv.begoniae , this character of foliage spot creates angular lesions that look water - intoxicate .
It will survive in dead foliage for up to a year – one of the reasons we rex begonia fans are careful to get disembarrass of stagnant leaves that have fallen on the dirt immediately .
This bacterium can also move inside plant tissue via root or leaf injuries . It ’s most common when the temperature is between 80 and 90 ° F .
The best tactic is bar , which includes avoiding splashing the leave when you irrigate and meeting all the plant ’s humidity , body of water , and soil drainage necessity .
If you do daub leaf stain harm , immediately prune any morbid foliage and destroy it .
In innovative cases , destroy the entire plant and toss the potting mix it grow in . It voice hardhearted , but it ’s far advantageously to trash one works than risk leaf spot jumping to all the others .
Be certain to hygienise containers well before you recycle them .
To protect any minimally damaged industrial plant from fresh begonia leaf spot outbreaks , you may need to regale them with a product contrive for controlling bacterial disease in houseplants , like the biofungicideBacillus subtilis .
Read our scout to get wind how this biofungicide works and determine whether it could aid .
Watch for a dusty blank sprinkling on the leaves that indicate the competently named powdery mold .
Caused byErysiphefungi , it thrives in humid condition and can show up even if you ’ve avoided excessively wet soil .
You may be able to merely pass over powdery mildew from the leaves with a uncontaminating , slightly moist microfiber towel .
When the floury corpuscle are far-flung you may need to use a fungicide or one of the other treatment outlined in ourguide to home remedies for powdery mildew .
It may seem like I ’m harping incessantly on engraft in well - draining grime and never overwatering , but those are the best ways to avoid mortal root buncombe .
do by roots rotting in put up water , or overly - moist soil bear a soilborne pathogen , solution waste basically drowns roots . Once they decompose , they can no longer help the works make the food it needs to hold out .
Do you run to irrigate too much ? shady antecedent rot if you notice the territory is soggy and the foliage is wilt or turning wan , or both .
The death knell sounds when you arise the plant and whiff the drain holes and catch a funky olfactory perception . That smell likely think of an modern case – you wo n’t be able to relieve the plant but must trash it and its potting mix .
You may be capable to peel away isolated rootstock and cull damaged root but do n’t be excessively optimistic about your betting odds .
When even a little bite of septic soil or plant life tissue paper remains , the root buncombe can spread to destroy the rest of the plant .
It ’s more sensible to thin your losses and start afresh with saucy potting mixture , a sterilized container , newfangled flora – and a vow to be more careful about how and when you water .
get hold steer on preventing antecedent waste here .
Best Uses of Rex Begonias
Giving rex begonias one more hooray , their very best usance is as anartful day brightener , particularly in wintertime .
More specifically , they work well on windowsills in the cold month , and lay out in containers on a shaded deck of cards or terrace in warm weather . The same industrial plant can do forked duty .
The distribute varieties look great in ahanging basketball hoop , while the vertical types organize a focal point in a radical of indoor plants .
Maybe I ’m an oddball , but I accidentally discovered that rex begonia can enliven the main bath decor . Two of my unidentified varieties are doing very well on the sharpness of my bathtub .
I strike them there during a remodeling project in the living room for what was supposed to be a workweek - long stay .
Between the humidity from the shower and the grow lights I have in there , that week has extended to a twelvemonth and a half – so far . I must step over them to get in the tub , but that ’s ok .
The beautiful plant are near fellow traveler when taking a tension - relieve tender bath , too .
Regarding companions , I do n’t need to allow for you without mentioning that rex begonia look dramatic and beautiful , but you do n’t want to direct too many of them near each other .
I think the reason some internal room decorator and indoor gardeners consider rex begonias gaudy is that they ’re so often identify side by side without regard to their coloring material outline .
It ’s difficult to appreciate those pattern and colours when they ’re fighting for attention .
Instead , I like to pair or aggroup these colorful foliage plants with leafy houseplant with single - shade leave of absence , like ‘ Neon’pothosor silver swordphilodendron(Philodendron hastatum ) .
Of course , the companion also take to appreciate gamy humidness . Boston ferns , living room palm , oralocasiaare all solid selection .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Rex Begonia, King of Colorful Foliage
I do n’t look every indoor nurseryman to enjoy the colors and patterns of rex begonias as much as I do . But gosh , are n’t they wondrous ?
And thencheck out these begonia guidesfor more growing and care tips :
© enquire the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . merchandise pic via Bonide , CSNSD , D’Vine Dev , Miracle - Gro , and Walmart . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Rose Kennedy
