There are hundreds of cultivars of B. rex to choose among, usually classified by leaf size—small (three inches or less), medium (three to six inches), or large (more than six inches). Wax begonias are gorgeous plants that you can grow in your garden or your home. we recommend fertilizing wax begonias with 130 to 210 ppm N if the growing medium does not contain a starter fertilizer. Fertilize container-grown begonias in spring when the plants send up their first shoots. Apply fertilizer to the soil prior to planting bedding begonias in spring. If you’re planting Wax Begonias outdoors in full sun, it’s best to choose a variety with bronze-colored leaves that manage better in direct light. You should fertilize your winter-blooming plants with a high-phosphorus, water-soluble fertilizer that contains little or no nitrogen. Knowing when to water your Rex begonia is easy, although you will probably have to water weekly, especially during the … Begonias like to get mostly dry between waterings. This is a bright beautiful indoor houseplant. Its waxy flowers vary in several colors like red, white, … Begonias need less care and are present in many shapes, colors, and sizes. They will stop growing when temperatures dip below 58°F (14.4°C). At planting time, add compost or topsoil to improve the fertility of the soil and help it retain moisture. Fertilizing. The second option are the flowering types with their impressive blooms. Old-fashioned wax begonias do great when planted in the shade. ... Feed actively growing plants monthly with a good, all-purpose fertilizer. Wax begonia plants grow and bloom best under full sun, though at times you might be required to provide some shade from the hot afternoon sun especially if you live in the more tropical (Southern) areas of the country. They are perennials but often treated as annuals to embellish gardens and balconies during the summer or cultivated indoors if you want year-round Begonia wonderfulness. How to Prune / Clean / Fertilize Begonia Plants - Annual Pruning Cutting back annuals. Fertilizer . Now that you know about how fertilizer works and how it’s applied to the begonias, it’s time to discuss which fertilizer to use. Rex begonias perform best with indoor temperatures ranging between 60°F to 85°F (15.5°C to 29.4°C). Both wax begonias and angel wing begonias are fibrous-rooted, which means they have a basic, familiar looking stringy root ball. If the growing medium does contain a starter fertilizer, we recommend fertilizing with a lower concentration of about 50 ppm N. Figure 1. Your begonias will be growing quite slowly (if at all) at this time, so they don't require much fertilizer to maintain their health. These plants will not produce accurately from seed, but like many other begonias, they propagate easily from leaf-tip cuttings.Take cuttings without blooms but at least two nodes and bury them in the moist potting soil mix, then leave in a warm, semi-shaded spot until new growth appears. As with other begonias, the rex and other foliage begonias prefer the same humid, gentle environment in which understory ferns thrive. Growing begonias is easy, and you can enjoy them year round both as a houseplant, or outdoors. They bloom with 1-1/2-inch single or double flowers in shades of red, pink, or white. Wax begonias are almost exclusively F1 hybrids produced by large nurseries in huge quantities. Apply a balanced liquid houseplant food at half the rate recommended on the package. Even sun-tolerant varieties can burn in intense sunlight, though, and may need midday protection. Some commercial mixes contain sawdust, which binds up the nitrogen in the potting mix so your fertilizer doesn't work properly. Begonias do best if they get regular food. Begonias love light, but not direct sunlight. A plant with green leaves favors a shadier spot. Propagation . Be sure to check the nursery tag to see the recommended light for each variety. Fibrous-rooted begonias make great house plants over the winter, as do the rhizomatous types (such as Rex begonias), which are grown primarily for their foliage. Besides, Wax begonia and fiber optic grass require moist but well-draining soil. Begonias adapt to a wide range of conditions and can be grown in the garden, patio containers, or even indoors if given a bright location. A few varieties like wax begonias can tolerate some direct sun, but partial to full shade is best. Fertilize either with a general purpose slow release fertilizer , or a liquid seaweed fertilizer . Begonias are especially sensitive to cold temperatures. Giving them a dose of fertilizer monthly during their growing season will help encourage growth and blooming. Bronze leaf Begonias are a species of wax Begonia that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Some of the popular names you'll find on the plant labels are "Wax Begonia", "Angel Wing Begonia" and "Rex Begonia". How To Water A Rex Begonia Indoors. Some stay either too wet or too dry to work well for begonias. The bedding plant fibrous begonias, Dragon Wing Begonias and Bonfire Begonias handle full sun best. According to the University of Florida, Begonias have over 1300 species that symbolize … Above: Begonia rex ‘Red Tango’ mixes well with other shade- and humidity-loving plants such as asparagus ferns and geraniums. It will nurture both the leaves and the flowers. Unless you buy your begonia seed from a specialized source (the American Begonia Society, for example, offers a wide choice of unconventional begonias), you’ll most likely only encounter seed packs of two types of begonias: wax begonias (B. x semperflorens-cultorum) and related varieties, such as Benary begonias (B. x benariensis) and Dragon Wing begonias, and tuberous begonias, … They should be kept in temperatures ranging from 75-85 o F (23-29 o C). The silvery-white flowers will blend beautifully with wax begonia. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors and are easy to grow both outdoors and indoors. When to water and fertilize. Adding some used coffee grounds to the soil will work wonders for begonias. How do wax begonia looks like. Soil Conditions: Begonias grow best in light, fertile, well-drained soil. Instead of monthly or bi-monthly feedings, they should get regular and frequent feedings, about once a … Tuberous begonias come in two forms, either upright or trailing, and have green or burgundy leaves. Additionally, they do well in full sun, which makes it easier to grow them together. It is a great method because it gives you a lot of freedom. [6] Wax begonia is a hardy perennial that thrives in growing zone 10 and 11 that grows anywhere from 6-24 inches tall. Consulting other begonia growers in your area will give you a good place to start in determining a good mix for your area. These are the begonias commonly sold in hanging baskets and as bedding plants. Most of these plants will continue growing and blooming all year long if you bring them inside before the first frost, put in a bright window, keep moist, and continue feeding. Overwintering begonias? (soil free is best) Outdoors, growing begonias means adding lots of organic matter to the soil. These plants like bright, dappled light or indirect bright lighting. Double Begonia is a low-growing annual with other common names as wax begonia and bedding begonia. Indoor Temperature For Rex Begonia Houseplants. To help your Double Begonia grow well and bloom prolifically, provide warm temperatures, little watering, and well-draining soil. Wax Begonia’s beauty and reliable performance make them a “must-have” for most gardeners. They have been popular since the Victorian era. Begonias benefit from an acidic soil, which the peat moss gives it. They are easily grown inside or outside with low maintenance. They cannot tolerate freezing, and some types of rex begonias go into a dormant period during the fall. a fertilizer solution on ebb-flow benches. When planted in a proper container, most wax begonias can live for a period of at least four to five years. Both plants grow from 6-inches, which makes them a perfect companion for one another. The wax begonia isn’t picky when it comes to fertilizer, and a general, weaker fertilizer, like 10-10-10, will usually meet the needs of this plant. These plants have just a regular root ball, with thin, stringy roots. Fibrous-Rooted Begonias: These include the semperflorens (or wax begonias), cane-like begonias, dragon-wing, and other varieties. Begonias enjoy a humid environment and appreciate periodic mistings. Wax begonia with bronze foliage for example Begonia rex, tend to do better in full sun than those with green leaves (Tuberous begonias). Learn all about how to grow them in this detailed begonia plant care guide. Wax Begonia plants thrive with daytime temperatures of 70°-75° and 60°-65° at night. If you’re looking for larger leaves and flowers, the ‘Dragon Wing’ pink begonia is a good choice, and it’s available from Nature Hills Nursery. Plus it's fun to collect different varieties (angel wing, rex, wax, tuberous, etc), and they add tons of color indoors or out in the garden. Add 1 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer per every 100 square feet of garden bed. Tucking them on a shaded porch or underneat a tree is perfect. Fertilize your begonias. Mix a general purpose, water-soluble fertilizer for indoor potted plants according to the package instructions and add the recommended amount to each pot. Some species, such as wax begonias, can tolerate direct sunlight, but some, like tuberous begonias, prefer more shade. Fertilize your plants less frequently during the late fall and winter months because your plant will not be growing as steadily during this time. The best thing about these gorgeous plants is that you can easily start them directly from seeds. Fertilizer. Begonias are very susceptible to root and stem rot when exposed to cold, wet soils, so proper drainage is essential. ‘Bada Bing’ is a series of long-blooming, sun-tolerant wax begonias that are available in pink, red, and white. Choose a light potting soil with extra perlite if available, or create your own mix using equal parts of potting soil, perlite, and peat moss. Wax begonia is popular since the Victorian age and is still popular today. Do this once a month from February through September. This picture shows wax begonias that were sub-irrigated with . In general, begonia plants can be placed in sunny areas with indirect light (6). There are more than 1000 species of begonias. Temp and Humidity. There are so many varieties and different looking foliage Begonias to pick from, so just choose the patterns you like best when purchasing. Rex begonias do best in moderate temperatures (60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and moderately high humidity (around 50 percent). 41 best Pendula/Canetype begonias images on Pinterest. One targeted at flowers at 1/4 strength is a smart idea. They will perform at their best with monthly fertilizing or an application of a slow release fertilizer at planting time. Wax begonias have succulent stems; shiny, rounded, green or reddish-brown leaves and grow in a mounded habit. Its scientific name is “Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum” and has more than 1000 species. A balanced fertilizer with a 20-20-20 ratio is best. Newer varieties of wax begonias are happy from full shade to full sun. Soil: Airy, light, fast-draining soil is best . This variety is also available in red. I feed my edible begonia with good quality, organic liquid fertilizer each week. Indoors, Wax Begonias grow best in bright indirect sunlight coming from a south, east or west window. 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