Plant Care Rex Begonia

Rex Begonia

4.5 out of 5 (73 experiences)

Rex Begonia has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
Rex Begonia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves

About Rex Begonia

There are over 2,000 species of Begonia, and horticulturalists have created even more varities by cultivating all sorts of shapes and colors! They're native to tropical regions around the world, but are now found in homes in cold climates as well. Their taxonomy is far more complex than other plants, with species belonging to different cultivar groups. They contain oxalic acid, so be sure to keep them out of reach in homes with pets or children! ⚠️

Taxonomy

Begonia rex-cultorum
Begonia
Begoniaceae
Cucurbitales

Also known as

rex begonia fedor

How to care for Rex Begonia

💦 Water

How often to water your Rex Begonia

Water needs for Rex Begonia
0.5 cups
every 9

Rex Begonia needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Rex Begonia

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Rex Begonia in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Rex Begonia: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Rex Begonia may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Rex Begonia in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Rex Begonia

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Rex Begonia: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Rex Begonia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Begonia
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Rex Begonia is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Rex Begonia →

Benefits of Growing Rex Begonia →

Common Rex Begonia Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Rex Begonia →

Outdoor Care Guide for Rex Begonia →


💦 Water Needs

Rex Begonia prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Rex Begonia Water Frequency →

Rex Begonia Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Rex Begonia may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Rex Begonia Light Requirements →

Rex Begonia Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Rex Begonia is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Rex Begonia is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Rex Begonia Edible? →

Rex Begonia Toxicity to Cats →

Rex Begonia Toxicity to Dogs →

Rex Begonia Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Rex Begonia doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Rex Begonia Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Rex Begonia does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Rex Begonia →

Best Pots for Rex Begonia →

When and How to Successfully Repot Rex Begonia →

What Are Healthy Rex Begonia Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Rex Begonia should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Rex Begonia →


❄️ Dormancy

Rex Begonia does not have a typical pattern of dormancy. If you notice their growth slowing down substantially, double check that they are getting enough sunlight and water to thrive!


🌎 Native Region

Rex Begonia is native to Tropics and Subtropics worldwide.


🌸 Flowers
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Rex Begonia is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Rex Begonia Lifecycle →

Rex Begonia Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Rex Begonia →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Rex Begonia can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Rex Begonia →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Rex Begonia, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Rex Begonia

Rex Begonia

Rex Begonia


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Rex Begonia has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 37
Rex Begonia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 32
Rex Begonia has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 24
Rex Begonia has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 15
Rex Begonia has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 11
Rex Begonia has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 7
Rex Begonia has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
@MariansOasis avatar
@@MariansOasis
leaf-1 91 Plants
xp 23,160 XP
globe Solana Beach, CA
03/07/2022

Gorgeous leaves, easy to maintain.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@MariansOasis avatar
@@MariansOasis
leaf-1 91 Plants
xp 23,160 XP
globe Solana Beach, CA
02/06/2022

So showy! Amazing foliage. Pretty easy to keep. Watch watering properly and no direct sunlight.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@mora avatar
@@mora
leaf-1 27 Plants
xp 2,239 XP
02/04/2022

I’ve had my rex for 2 years now. Nothing but positive things from this plant! It droops when it needs water and is able to survive with direct and completely indirect light! Plus they’re super cute ☺️

Fast grower Fast grower
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@PlantEuphoria avatar
@@PlantEuphoria
leaf-1 37 Plants
xp 6,156 XP
globe Foley, AL
02/02/2022

My easiest plant I have. Not fussy at all. Beautiful colors. Have it in bright indirect light from south facing window. Water when too soil is dry. Easy for beginners.

@DesMc8 avatar
@@DesMc8
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 125 XP
globe Haverford, PA
01/15/2022

The show off in my collection

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@BJoyce avatar
@@BJoyce
leaf-1 57 Plants
xp 10,343 XP
globe Orlando, FL
01/11/2022

Finding the right spot for this guy was tough but the leaves are gorgeous

@TheGreenWitch avatar
@@TheGreenWitch
leaf-1 19 Plants
xp 1,565 XP
globe Williamston, NC
12/24/2021

This plant is bipolar. One day it wants sun, then no sun, water, no water. It’s al

Survivor Survivor
Amber avatar
@Amber
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 149 XP
globe Eugene, OR
11/16/2021

This plant is so easy for me to take care of! I keep him on a high shelf with indirect light and within 2 months he has already almost doubled in size! So many new leaves! No pests i’ve noticed so far.

Fast grower Fast grower
@vindazkar avatar
@@vindazkar
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 39 XP
11/07/2021

The coloring of this plant’s leaves is spectacular and really unique. I have the Red Splash variety of Rex Begonia and I love the jagged edges with their silver/gray stripes. This one has clung and flourished despite being in a forgotten planter outside until it was quite cold. It’s really a hardy, beautiful little plant!

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
@vindazkar avatar
@@vindazkar
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 39 XP
11/07/2021

The coloring of this plant’s leaves is spectacular and really unique. I have the Red Splash variety of Rex Begonia and I love the jagged edges with their silver/gray stripes. This one has clung and flourished despite being in a forgotten planter outside until it was quite cold. It’s really a hardy, beautiful little plant!

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
@PinkandGreen avatar
@@PinkandGreen
leaf-1 26 Plants
xp 628 XP
globe Kippa-Ring, Queensland
10/15/2021

This is my 3rd begonia added to my collection, and while I previously thought they were dramatic and easy to kill, I’m finding my begonias are proving me wrong, this one too. Betty likes the bathroom windowsill, bright indirect light, water about once a week. I love the variegated leaves.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@lkreedster avatar
@@lkreedster
leaf-1 24 Plants
xp 4,790 XP
globe Mesa, AZ
10/03/2021

Beautiful color and nice leaf shape 😊

Fast grower Fast grower
@jodielawrenceplants avatar
@@jodielawrenceplants
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 106 XP
09/09/2021

this plant has a beautiful pink shimmer to the leaves 🌸

Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Amy avatar
@Amy
leaf-1 13 Plants
xp 664 XP
globe Greenville, SC
08/20/2021

I think this has become my favorite plant, she is so colorful, I can sit for hours and look at her.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@agoose avatar
@@agoose
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 207 XP
08/08/2021

i love this plant<3! the stalk gets a little tangly in the pot if its not taken care of

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@theajohnson avatar
@@theajohnson
leaf-1 17 Plants
xp 612 XP
globe Thornleigh, New South Wales
08/02/2021

this plant is one of the plants i forgot about in my house so this is my chance to revive it

Browns easily Browns easily
Fast grower Fast grower
@jaydmurr avatar
@@jaydmurr
leaf-1 29 Plants
xp 3,832 XP
globe South Portland, ME
07/23/2021

the leaves are so shiny it seems fake

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@JUSTPLANTY avatar
@@JUSTPLANTY
leaf-1 68 Plants
xp 7,644 XP
07/13/2021

I absolutely love the luscious leaves and flower that this plant produces only thing do not put it outside during caterpillar season because my baby brought in a caterpillar and ate its leaves. So be carful!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
Pest magnet Pest magnet
@Mvdi_ avatar
@@Mvdi_
leaf-1 17 Plants
xp 565 XP
globe Virginia Beach, VA
07/12/2021

I bought this plant from Lidl when it was wilting and basically dead. The minute I took it home and put it in water is perked up! It’s the easiest plant to take care of because the leaves droop when it needs water, and once you water it, an hour later it perks back up!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Demi avatar
@@Demi
leaf-1 20 Plants
xp 1,049 XP
globe Chicago, IL
07/12/2021

NOT TOLERANT TO HEAT. I don't recommend putting it in a hot room with no AC especially during the summer. Also give it some time if it looks dead because it can make a comeback.

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower

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