Begonia Rex Mixture Rooted Cutting Liner

Rex Begonias (sometimes called Painted-Leaf Begonias) are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of India, and they thrive in highly humid environments. Don’t overwater them, though, or they’ll succumb to fungi. These slow-growers have highly unusual, striking foliage with large, brightly-colored leaves. Although Rex Begonias bloom, most growers pinch off the blooms in order to maintain focus on the leaves.

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Growing Tips

 

For best results with Rex Begonias, we recommend using a constant feed program of 150 ppm N with a balanced fertilizer to maximize color development. Maintain a pH between 6.0 - 6.5.

To help your customers create a humid environment in their home, instruct them to place the pot on top of a saucer filled with rocks and pour water into the saucer, making sure that the water level never reaches the bottom of the pot.

Pinching

No pinching is required for Rex Begonias.

Spacing

Rex Begonias should be spaced adequately to allow airflow and light penetration between the foliage. Usually 2’ centers on baskets will be enough.

Height Control

Rex Begonias naturally crown in a rosette shape, so no PGRs are necessary.

Pests

Aphids may be a possible pest problem with Rex Begonias.

Disease

Rex Mixture are not prone to many diseases, but watch for botrytis and plant rot while the days are short. Botrytis is a grey rot usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent it by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label’s instructions.

Planting Rex Mixture Liners

1. We recommend planting 4 starter plants per 10 inch basket. Use a well-drained soil in your baskets and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil. If you are planting 4” pots, 1 plant per pot should be sufficient. Plant it directly in the middle of your pot.
2. No pinching is necessary. Watch it grow and delight your customers!

Rooted Cuttings

Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.

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