how-to-propagate-rex-begonias-from-leaf-cuttings?

Introduction and care of Begonia rex (leaf begonia): In this article, we will talk about the care and propagation of one of the most popular and beautiful plants that you can easily keep at home.

Begonia can be a foliage plant that includes an extraordinary assortment of completely different colors and will bring you bliss and peace.

This plant does not need much water, and you will use both cuttings and stems for propagation, so join in begonias to develop at home.

Begonia rex is known by its English name, which is derived from the French name Begon, the patron saint of botany, and the scientific name is Begonia rex.

 This flower belongs to the Begoniaceae family and originally comes from the Himalayan region.

The external characteristics of Begonia rex include its fleshy and creeping stems. In addition, its leaves are heart-shaped and a main vein divides the leaf into two unequal parts. All kinds of colors can be seen on one leaf.

The simplicity of care and cultivation, the resistance of some varieties to drought and heat, and the possibility of propagation in all conditions have attracted attention and made it a popular plant for the home.

Different species of Begonia Rex

There are about 900 different species of this plant, which are perennial and evergreen herbaceous and deciduous plants developed for their excellent foliage and flowers.

The length is 3 meters A few species are also climbing.

This species is developed because of its excellent thinning. This plant has dark green, wrinkled shoots that turn silver at the edge of the leaf.

Sometimes other colors such as reddish, cream, or purple can also be seen on the leaf surface.

The flowers are usually pale purple and have a diameter of one centimeter. They appear in summer and are not beautiful and should be isolated from the plant.

Below you will find the list of different Begonia rex names.

1 Begonia rex Paw

2. Begonia rex mukti

3. Begonia rex velvet

4. Begonia rex leafy

 

Suitable light for leaf begonias

One of the most important and basic needs of this plant is enough light, this plant likes some light, but it can’t stand coordinated light, so it is better to have a lot of filtered light, that is, you will put the pot to the south window and put a window decoration behind it so that it develops massively.

Water properly

Begonia likes a moist environment and moist soil, especially in summer, but swampy soil is in no way suitable for it and leads to yellowing of the leaves and decay of the roots and stems.

It is better to use water without salts for irrigation (water that has stood in the environment for 24 hours and has expelled all the extra salts).

It is better to water the plant completely when the soil in the pot is as dry as a finger, so that after watering the excess water comes out from under the pot.

Feeding and fertilization

Like other houseplants, it needs to be strengthened to develop and be stable. Try to feed it every week by watering it.

To do this, dissolve 1 gram of Crystallon fertilizer (three twenties are sweet) in a liter of water and start in early spring.

Fertilize the plant until mid-autumn, but stop fertilizing in winter. suitable soilThe plant likes light soil and you can use soil prepared for houseplants.

However, if you want to prepare the soil at home, mix a small amount of garden soil with perlite, peat moss, and coke and add a small amount of sand. Add drainage to raise it. In the meantime, the leaf begonia likes acidic soil.

how to propagate rex begonia from leaf cuttings?

Types of cuttings through leaves:

Propagation by petioles

1. To propagate this flower by leaf stalks, you must first use scissors to cut firm, new stalks from the original plant at one point, whereby the stalk should be 3 to 5 cm long.

2. Make sure that when you want to remove the leaf from the plant, the cut is made just below where the leaf joins the stem.

3. The severed cutting should be placed in a suitable substrate, which contains equal parts of a mixture of perlite, peat moss, and vermiculite.

4. Place the leaves 3 to 5 cm deep and cover them well with soil so that they sit firmly in the ground.

5. Make sure that the entire stem of the leaf is in the soil.

6. To produce this flower effectively, use establishment hormones. To do this, dip the lower part of the stem into this arrangement and plant it in the soil. This way, the production of this flower will be more fruitful.

7. When planting the cuttings in the bed, cover them with a clear plastic bag to provide the necessary moisture and also to create a greenhouse space for growth and rooting.

8. Place the pot with the cuttings in a humid place with a temperature of 24-27 degrees and away from direct sunlight.

9. If these cuttings are placed in a good environment, they will start to take root within 3-4 weeks and a new plant will gradually start to grow.

10. Try to change the potting soil and pot size every spring as begonias need more space to root.

Propagation via the leaves

Some begonia species that produce roots propagate via the leaves, which takes more time than stem propagation.

This method of leaf propagation uses mature leaves, which are divided. In some begonia species, new plants grow from the leaves, which takes longer than propagation from the stems.

This method of propagation uses large leaves, which are cut into small triangular pieces with a knife. the leaves are cut into small triangular pieces with a knife. 

These small pieces of take-off cut into triangles should be placed in an appropriate, firm substrate.

The substrate in which we place the cuttings should be a mixture of sand and peat so that establishment can take place. We then set the substrate to a temperature of 20-24 degrees.