When the rexes start dropping leaves and having mildew problems you will understand why a lot of people quit growing them. Rexes are very easy to propagate by leaf cutting and should be done ASAP so you have an extra one (or lots) when the mother plant croaks.
Ok, so what your telling me is I MUST propagate it to keep it because it IS AN ANNUAL.
OK, now for the HOW TO... I know, re-read this thread..?! BUt care to reveiw?
I am not sure if I can do this in the HOUSE HOUSE! My greenhouse is closed now for this time of year!
No they are not ANNUALS; they are perennials BUT they can be very persnickety (read the prior post about dropping leaves which is normal but most folks think something is wrong and about mildew).
Propagating is a method to insure against loss. Remember that the plants you buy have been grown in the best of conditions and when you pick them up they have already been stressed some from the truck ride and less than ideal conditions at the nursery/store and then in an ordinary home environment even more stress (lower light levels, low humidity, etc).
If you can get your plant to acclimate to your house conditions then you won't have any problems but (a big but) more than likely the plant will take a downturn.
Not to worry you too much but you can always buy new ones when you find them. They do make great summer annuals - i.e. don't obsess about losing them if (and when) it happens.
You may want to start buying the less flamboyant rhizomatous begonias that don't have the issues that rexes have. There are plenty to choose from.
Interesting! Thanks!
Id like to try the tuberous begonias but have not seen those yet. Will be looking at them next year!
So far the rexes I got earlier are fine. No leaf loss other than a little damage on two of the leaves when purchased but not worried on them.
The new ones so far so good, but they have only been home since Friday so they have not shocked yet if they are going to.
Ok, so they are perennials! Just trying to get a gripe. They came taged.. REX but no other further explaination or defition and just a pic on the tag.
OH I figue with my luck I will kill them. But I am hoping not. I do want to try to propagate them. So ok, walk us through your method, maybe you got a way that might work!
But one question, can they be divided at transplant and how soon should I transplant? The first ones I got are getting pot bound.
It is fairly common to pick up rexes (and other plants) at nurseries and the big box stores with the wrong tag. One grower must've had a million tags printed with Begonia serratipetala Rex and put them in any pot that had a begonia in it. The unsuspecting buyer thought they had a new and unusual begonia. There are many sites that have some decent pictures with names (some sites rename their begonias which adds to the confusion).
Propagating rexes are very easy. Leaf propagation is probably the better way to go than division because typically there aren't enough rhizomes in a small pot for division. If there is then divide away. If the rhizomes are long enough you can take a piece of it as well. Perlite is probably the best medium to use but a good potting mix will work as well but there are more caveats when using it. I like using baking pans with the plastic lids. I prefer the roasting pans over the cake pans because of the extra depth. Punch holes in the bottom of the pan for drainage and fill over half way with perlite or potting soil. If using perlite water it well but potting mix is totatlly different - if it feels or looks moist DO NOT water at all. Take healthy leaves and cut the stem to an inch or two. Large leaves can have the excess outer area trimmed away. Push the stem into the medium until the leaf is resting or partially off the surface. Cover with the plastic lid and place under lights or a well lit area. Doing this outdoors is even easier - you really won't need the lid if your area has adequate humidity. They should root in a week or two and babies will appear shortly.
You can also water root leaves but I find it best to place a plastic lid or baggie over the cup of water to keep the germs out. Or you can place the cup of water in a terrarium and cover.
Anyway rooting and developing babies is fairly easy but growing them on can be a challenge if you neglect them. Too much water will cause rot while no water will quickly dessicate the leaves and possibly kill the plant as well.
Here is a pan of rhizomatous I started last winter. Rexes are easier than these but you get the idea.
The one thing I don't like at DG is the one picture per post but it is something we have to live with.
Here are some trays with lids on under standard cheap shop lights.
This message was edited Nov 2, 2009 6:44 AM
Some rexes with a semp and Passing Storm. Note the algae growing.
Abu Dhabi and Challenger plus an earth star (talk about easy)
More rexes (terrible picture). These I just pushed into the potting mix straight out of the bag - NO WATER. After they rooted and threw some leaves I started watering. I eventually lost the most of this pan due to neglect (either too much water or no water which really stressed them). The solution is start over again.
If you have ferns with spores you can sprinkle some collected spores over the surface and grow ferns as well. Some ferns can be very aggressive and the poor begonia has no chance unless you divide the two.
This Bashful Bandit has been overtaken by the bear's paw fern for instance but I love the combo.
There is a begonia under all these fronds.
Awesome!!!!! Im game to try... only trouble right now is space...DRAT!
See RED, she makes it look soooo eazy!
I see that
Well, I think I am going to investigate doing this with mine. I hate to lose them so will try as soon as possible!
ARRRRRRGH!! The great PM plague has hit my reigers... any suggestions>? I cut them back and loped off all the dusty looking leaves I could see. Does not mean I got it all, but well, SHUCKY DARN.. short of tossing them out right now, thought I would try.
So ok, whats the treatment for the powdery mildew? If any?????
Um so far, the new growth is clean and been almost a week..... so I am watching them realllly careful.
Figures.. a plant I realllllly like!
Keep them warm, in bright light, and keep the air flowing (a small fan?) Short of that, spray, spray, spray. Cut off the worst affected leaves and dispose of.
Some of the sprays suggested by others are Neem oil, sulfur powder or spray, and one suggested by a commercial grower (expensive due to the size of the bottle) is Milstop.
The other thing is try to cope for the next umpteen months the best you can and when it is warm once again, move it outdoors where it should recover in no time. A lot of times the plant is so weakened by the time warm weather returns that it will never make it. I usually opt for this method but it is aggravating and sometimes not worth the bother.
The worst begonias for mildew are rexes and mallet type canes/shrubs. Even semps get the dreaded mildew and it is a leap of faith to try and keep them but I was able to do that with several semps last winter.
It is hard to believe that this pot of semps (Charm and two double blossom ones plus Pink Minx which is another notorious mallet type) were next to death in the winter but after a few weeks outdoors they regained their full health and beauty.
Gonna be April/May before mine see the light of day OUTdoors! They seem happy under the lights, just maybe I might haveoverwatered them too. So well, so far so good since I butchered them.. the new grow is nice.. just will keep fingers crossed. You have to understand, these are in my livingroom.. so chemicals might not be an option, although I have had to spray a little Sevin on a few of the houseplants due to a couple gnats and ants. Ima sooo praying I did not bring the full anthill in the house. UGH! Long about March I suspect I will know. Although in this territory, living on an anthill, I dont have to bring any plants in, they will find their way in sooner or later once the rains hit in spring. Then its all over but the screaming! Thank God they are not fire ants though.. just pesty lil red ants that that always manage to hang out by my kitchen sink and head for the pantries.. UGH!
At least they aren't heading for the panties, lol.
You guys have some beautiful plants. I haven't seen a reiger's begonia in a decade!!! I would love to grow every begonia I see, lol, well, lots of other plants, too... I guess it's lucky there isn't much to choose from where I live :).
Well, those reigers were pretty till they got the PM.. I had to whaack them back severely and they are coming back, but so is the PM.. now the PM is on the wax begonias too. Pinch pinch pinch....
....."heading for the panties"????
ants in the pants, lol. I get the little ones that hang around the sink, too, no matter how much poison I feed them they come back. I heard on the gesneriad forum that people use 9 parts water and 1 part milk as a spray for pm. I think it would be worth a try.
I have been using neem oil to control insects and that is also another remedy for pm. I hate to see plants struggle :(.
Thanks! LOL! Milk and water.. I live on an ant hill.. Im gonna have to buy a dairy to spray them! As for the water.. no problema, got plenty of that with the flooding! I will either have to have the dairy dump the milk in the yard when the tide is in or milk the cows direct on the grass while standing in the water.
As fer the flooding.. thats why the ants come in the house.. they cant swim! LOL! Its either that or they hicthed a ride in the potted plants.. which is entirely possible.. but so far I am, knock on Pattys head ant free!
As for Pattys ants.. send her a fire extinguisher.. Shes got them thar far ants! LOL!
The 1 part milk and 9 parts water is to make a foliar spray for pm. For ants, I feed that terro ant poison. It cuts them down, but they come back. Ew, fire ants are not a lot of fun.
yup, 1 cow to 9 of water.. that will be a start!
Makes me feel like Jerry Baker when he start s dumping beer on the lawn, but then I got to agree with him, dont make me no never mind on the spilt beer... so if its good enough for the lawn.., go for it, cuz it sure aint good for me!
HEY >>>>Patty, can ya see me now with old Bessy out there just spritzing them ants! I like it, I like it, qwick, I need the website to rentacow!
Ok, sorry to get off the trail.. its gonna be a long winter....im already steer crazy with the cabin fever stuff and and its only Thansgiving...
Anyway, just noticed today my one rex developed spots... I dont think its normal.. I even doubt worse that there is any cure.. anyone have a clue?
Should I toss the plant? COuld I pinch off the spotted leaves? Ugh! What is this on my poor once pretty snail leaf?
To me, it looks like a fungal disease, but I am not a pro. What kind of conditions are you growing the begonia in? Maybe someone knows what to call it and how to treat it..
Either spray and pray or cut the leaf off. Don't toss the plant until it is dead, dead, dead.
I cut spotted the leaves off, there were only about 4... it is under a grow light... indoors. Watered when it is to the finger touch dry.. trying not to over water. My water is very hard.. calcium up the kahzoo.. , iron too and I am betting the farm nitrate loaded but need to test on that.
I had some wax begonias nearby it that had a wee bit of PM and took care of that by pinching and so far so good.. but.. this is different.
I did recently sprayed the houseplants with Sevin as I had a few pests.. could it be from that maybe? Well I hope I do not lose it. What should I spray it with if it is fungal...?
I have 3 other rex and they seem to be fine so far.
Dumb question, if I remove all the leaves will that kill the plant or promote better growth?
Also are these rex a begonia I can divide or do they have to do the leaf propogation thing?
Both, kinda. Do the leaf cuttings, and you can take cuttings of the rhizome, too. I have been starting to use neem, it is insecticide and fungicide in one, but it kind of smells strange :). I have had all the leaves fall off of rexes and they grow back as long as they don't lose too much vitality. As far as taking a couple leaves of a basically healthy plant, it won't mind much, it will make room for more leaves. I love rexes outside but inside, it is a little harder for me to grow them. I am crossing my fingers until spring :).
Happy Thanksgiving all of you begonia lovers. May your plants be pest and fungi free and let spring come soooon so I can buy a ton of plants!
Amen to that!
Well, I will have to check into the Neem....I took off those polkadoted leaves and it still has a good number of what looks healthy, but time will tell.
If I divide them, I was wondering on how they will shock on that.
Well, I put cuttings in some barely moist soil in a clear container that I can close up (sandwich box or something). Keep out of sunlight, and a little bottom heat wouldn't hurt. When they seem to be taking off, I open it up a snitch for a few day, then open it a little more, etc. to harden it off. I only water these containers with a spray bottle or a couple drops at a time. No flooding required.
3jsmom, how long does it take your cuttings to grow a new plant? I was only successful with a couple of leaves I plucked from a public garden...It took me 2 months before I saw anything.
OK< I checked out NEEM... that is for bugs not for a fungal.
I am using Sevin in the spray form for the pests. Sooo, unless the thoughts were that the Sevin was causing the spots on the leaves..hmmm then should I change over to Neem? I have only sprayed twice in the 6 weeks the plants that have been in the house...so I dont think the spots are caused by the Sevin since they probably would have showed up shortly after the first spraying of it.
I need to know what fungalcide would be appropriate for my "spotted" snail leafed rex begonia if the spots are caused by a fungus....are the spots going to go away if I do not remove those leaves? I already pinched them off so there are no more spots on any leaves.. but was just curious if it was possible for the leaves to recover once sprayed with the fungalcide?
I didn't mark the calendar, but it seems like 2 months. It takes forever from leaves, but from a rhizome cutting, it would be faster. I haven't done this because I don't want to cut my plants, lol.
I'll do some research tomorrow on the neem to show you the antifungal properties. It's sort of neat.
If you decide you want to try it, make sure you get the 100% cold pressed neem. I am just beginning with it, and overall I think I like it (it's a little smelly). It makes bugs starve to death because they'd rather die than eat it, lol. I was wondering about a carbaryl (Sevin) soil treatment for fungus gnats. They are getting on my nerves. I do know that I've seen insect populations leaving, like aphids and spider mites with the neem.
Neem is amtifungal and a pest deterrent, it has an unusual odor too. I prefer to use it outdoors. I don't think I woud use Sevin indoors.
I dont like using any chemicals indoors, but it looks like I have little choice if I want to have houseplants. The Sevin I got is in a spritz bottle....As for the Neem, I only see in the ad that it says for pests.. is there more than one kind??.. the one I found actually says Bio-Neem. It did not mention it was an anti fungal...comes in a green bottle..
So ok, now getting back to propagating.. do you use rooting hormone on the leaf cuttings? And whats with the baggies? I hear lots of people bagging the cuttings and the houseplant begonias.. My rex, wax and reiger plants are doing fine without any bagging..saw one gal trying to use jars over the cuttings...guess we are trying to keep some humidity in them?.. but I would be concerned of rot... But I have not tried to do cuttings in the house yet.. just in the GPS like for the wax, but have not had the others that long to try any cuttings yet.
Oh, BTW Sevin is good for fleas... it used to be in the good dog shampoo.. but.. well you know how that goes.. ya get something that works.. and they call it an environmental hazard..
The bagging is for humidity. You have to make sure not to have drenched soil or it will rot. As long as the soil feels just damp, it's enough.
Neem is kind of like the unchemical spray "they" are claiming. It isn't supposed to be harmful as many other chemicals. People use it on skin diseases and fungi, so overspray isn't a concern. I sprayed it indoors, but only in our kind of mudroom/plantroom and a terrarium. I don't know about bioneem. What matters is cold pressed 100% neem. If it is processed or heat extracted, it loses some effectiveness. Dyna-Gro Neem Oil is one that was recommended to me... If you are going to try it, shop around to find 100% at an affordable price :).
tHANKS.. GLAD TO KNOW THERE IS MORE THAN ONE KIND neem THAT i SHOULD LOOK for.
i KINDA FIGURED THE BAGGIES WERE FOR HUMIDITY... nO ONE HAS SAID IF THEY USE THE ROOT HORMONES OR NOT THOUGH.,, i THINK i WILL TRY IT
...oops.. not shouting.. key got stuck!!
A couple of my rexes look big enough in the pot to divide at the root. I think I might try that. Just need to find the right potting media.. looks like they are in a peatmoss of some description. I have been wanting to put them in better pots than what they came in, just have not done that yet either. I am guessing these like to be a tad potbound for some reason.
I haven't tried rooting hormone on begonias.
I think smaller pots is about drainage and not staying wet too long. I have one that I want to repot and I'm just scared I'll hurt it and it looks so pretty. Oh well, as long as I can keep them alive til spring, they'll thrive outside again. That's when I'm gonna spring the new pot idea on them :)...
LOL!
Well, the wax begonias are easy to start.. I dip in hormone, stick in wet soiled cell pack and put in the GPS and keep watered, but not wet wet. Takes about 2-3 weeks to show root. Had good luck spring through fall on them.. they are now in the livingroom.
The rexes.. hmmm.. thats the one that I am wanting to try, but have not and I did try the reigers, but they were late in the season in the gps and had a rough go only getting one cutting started with the dip in hormone method.
Since they too were started in the GPS, humidity was not an issue.
I can see baggying them in the house.. I am gonna have to attempt that!
My water here is such a pain in the rear cheeks its terrible. Its so hard it can stand up by itself without an icecube tray! I think its the main reason I have a lot of issues with starting seed.
I want to try some bulb begonias like the lovely ruffles and picotees and the ones you see in hanging baskets in all those pretty pastel colors this spring. I have been drooling on the catalogs...! If I recall right when i worked in the GH.. we started a lot of those bulb plants by cuttings also.
