How to grow beautiful Rex begonia?

Royal begonia is a plant from the Begonia family. His homeland is the northeastern parts of India. The Begoniev family includes a huge number of different species, but it is this one (also called Begonia Rex) that attracts flower growers with its beauty. And no, not at all chic buds. The attractive appearance of begonia is ensured by its large, beautiful leaves. Those plants on which flowers grow are usually planted in gardens. But the royal begonia is grown as a houseplant. Taking care of her is much easier. This undemanding flower will be a great decoration for your room.

Description of the plant

One of the features of Begonia rex is its root system. She is strong and powerful. It is a creeping, shallow rhizome. The stem of the plant is also quite thick, but not very tall. It is covered with bristles of different shades - white, pink and red. They are short, so the stem looks like velvet.

But most of all attention should be paid to the description of the leaves of this plant. They are of several types:

• rounded;
• elongated;
• heart-shaped;
• feather-like;
• because of the pattern they resemble a snail.

The edges of the leaves can also be different - they are either wavy or serrated. Smooth edges are rare.

The color of the leaves also brings variety to the appearance of begonias. They are:

• green;
• bright red;
• raspberry;
• purple;
• light purple;
• silvery.

At the same time, the pattern on the leaves can differ significantly in color, so that there are a variety of combinations of these shades.

The shape of the leaves and their color seem to people just beautiful. But for the begonias themselves, they are vital. Due to the dark color and uneven surface, the leaves heats up more and moisture evaporates from them faster. And thanks to this shape of the leaves, they do not hide each other - each leaf gets the same amount of sunlight.

Begonia flowers are light pink, small in size. So they fade against the background of the leaves.

Care

At home, caring for begonia is quite simple.

• Begonia Rex loves warmth. The ideal temperature for her is plus twenty-five. But the heat (even about plus thirty) will definitely not do her good. But the plant is not friendly with the cold either. The lowest temperature at which it can survive the winter is plus fifteen. Of course, preparation for frost must be started in advance. If you are used to keeping the plant outdoors or on the balcony in the summer, then at the end of August it is worth returning it to the room.
• For begonias to grow, of course, you need sunlight. But a direct hit of rays is allowed only in the morning and evening, when they are not so bright. The flower should be hidden from the midday sun in the shade, but it is even better to put the pot on the windowsill in the northern part of the house. And if the light hits only a part of the plant, then its shape will be distorted, it will tilt to one side.
• Watering is arguably the most difficult part of begonia care. Water it in moderation. The soil should dry out completely between waterings. Moreover, overdrying it is dangerous for the plant. But waterlogging of the soil is even more dangerous. Use soft water (boil it before watering). Also, make sure that the liquid does not get on the leaves.
• It will not be superfluous to use dressings. They are required by the plant in spring and summer. If you have not found a specific fertilizer for this variety, you can use any for decorative leafy flowers. Just carefully study the composition - fertilizers in which there is too much nitrogen are not suitable for begonias.

Reproduction

There are several ways to breed begonias.

• Cuttings - the classic way. It is suitable for all plants. Cut off cuttings up to ten centimeters long. Choose ones with more leaves. The leaves from the lower part must be removed, and the upper ones must be cut by a third. Leave the cuttings to dry at the cut. When this happens, it is useful to use a growth stimulant. Dip the stalk into it for half an hour. After that, you can plant. Mix sand and soil, place the cuttings in a pot with the mixture (dip deep so that the leaves remain on the surface). Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place. Periodically, you need to moisten the planting with a spray bottle.
• Another method is more suitable for begonias. Choose the largest leaf and plant it (at an angle) in a mixture of peat and perlite (after moistening it). Cover with plastic wrap (or jar). In a couple of months, new leaves will appear.
• And the most time consuming way is with seeds. It is necessary to start reproduction by this method in winter. Spread the seeds on the surface of the substrate (special for begonias sold). Water them (it is better to use a spray bottle) and cover with foil. It needs to be removed periodically to prevent the seeds from becoming moldy. When the leaves begin to appear, plant the seedlings in separate small pots or cups. After the appearance of the sixth leaf, the plants can be transplanted into ordinary pots, in which they will continue to live.

Flowering period

As mentioned earlier, flowers are not the main thing for Begonia Rex. They are small, the color is not as bright as that of the leaves. But still, during and after the flowering period, the plant needs special care. During flowering, you need to make additional feeding more often. But after its end, the begonia comes to rest. To begin with, you need to rearrange it in a dark place - so that all the nutrients go into the roots. And then you need to cut the stems. Cutting points must be processed with ash or coal! Also, after flowering, you will have to temporarily reduce watering.

Diseases and pests

Royal begonia is susceptible to several diseases and pest attacks.

Among the diseases, the following are most common.

• Gray rot. Its cause is excess moisture. This can be caused by both high humidity and improper watering. And if these conditions are accompanied by low temperatures, trouble cannot be avoided. Sign - softening of the leaves and the appearance of mycelium on them. There are special means for treatment.
• A similar disease is bacterial rot. Her only sign is the appearance of rotten spots on the leaves. And the reasons for the appearance are the same.
• False dew - Some begonias are predisposed to this condition. But it also manifests itself due to improper care in terms of moisture. Its sign is yellow spots on the leaves.

There are not so many pests that appear on begonias.

• Thrips... It is difficult to detect them immediately, because they are very small and merge with the leaves. But the consequences of their stay are noticeable - yellow, gray and brown spots appear on the leaves. To get rid of them, you need to use the Confidor solution. And check all the other plants in the house, as thrips can move to them.
• Mealybug. A sign of its appearance is leaf fall. Watering with Aktara solution will help to get rid of it.

Output

Begonia Rex is one of the most interesting indoor plants. But it attracts attention not with flowers, but with unusual leaves, which differ in shape and color. Another advantage of begonia is that there are many ways to breed it.

Just as importantly, caring for begonias is not that difficult. Most attention should be paid to watering. High humidity can cause a variety of diseases. Begonia is susceptible to attacks by some pests.