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Rex Begonia Red Kiss in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Begonia (Rex Cultorum Group) 'Red Kiss' syn. Begonia rex 'Red Kiss'

 

Rex Begonia 'Red Kiss'

Begonias are a complex group of perennial plants which can take a number of forms. They are in the family Begoniaceae which has many different species. Most are native to moist subtropical and tropical environments, and as such many of those are grown indoors as houseplants where temperatures are cooler. A number are also grown outdoors in cooler climates but although they are perennials they are treated horticulturally as annuals as they usually cannot withstand colder winters. They prefer a moist well drained soil that is not too wet or allowed to dry out completely. Begonia (Rex Cultorum Group), or Begonia rex as it was previously known as, is the Rex Begonia (also known as Painted Leaf Begonia, King Begonia, or Fancy Leaf Begonia). It is a group of hybrids that all originated historically from the species Begonia rex, following crosses with other Begonia species, and its parent is native to north eastern India through to China. All hybrids in this group are grown primarily for its foliage - shape, form, colour, pattern and colouring - and whilst they all produce flowers they are quite insignificant. They are a type of rhizomatous begonia although they are classed separately to others due to their slightly different cultural requirements. Rex Begonias are commonly grown as houseplants, and are botanically evergreen perennials. They have alternate leafs along a fleshy stem, which creeps and grows just above the soil surface. Rex begonias are easy to propagate via leaf cuttings, or even stem cuttings, or division in more established plants. 'Red Kiss' has bright metallic red leaves with a dark pink centre and dark pink/black margin.

Contributed by @Scratchycat13

 
plant Features
  • Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Rex Begonia Red Kiss is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Rex Begonia 'Red Kiss'

Latin name

Begonia (Rex Cultorum Group) 'Red Kiss' syn. Begonia rex 'Red Kiss'

type

Houseplant

family

Begoniaceae

ph

5.5 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Frost

    Rex Begonia Red Kiss is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Soil

    Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

  • Water

    Rex Begonia Red Kiss likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Rex Begonia Red Kiss is 0.20meters x 0.20meters 0.20 M 0.20 M

Begonia (Rex Cultorum Group) 'Red Kiss' syn. Begonia rex 'Red Kiss'

Begonias are a complex group of perennial plants which can take a number of forms. They are in the family Begoniaceae which has many different species. Most are native to moist subtropical and tropical environments, and as such many of those are grown indoors as houseplants where temperatures are cooler. A number are also grown outdoors in cooler climates but although they are perennials they are treated horticulturally as annuals as they usually cannot withstand colder winters. They prefer a moist well drained soil that is not too wet or allowed to dry out completely. Begonia (Rex Cultorum Group), or Begonia rex as it was previously known as, is the Rex Begonia (also known as Painted Leaf Begonia, King Begonia, or Fancy Leaf Begonia). It is a group of hybrids that all originated historically from the species Begonia rex, following crosses with other Begonia species, and its parent is native to north eastern India through to China. All hybrids in this group are grown primarily for its foliage - shape, form, colour, pattern and colouring - and whilst they all produce flowers they are quite insignificant. They are a type of rhizomatous begonia although they are classed separately to others due to their slightly different cultural requirements. Rex Begonias are commonly grown as houseplants, and are botanically evergreen perennials. They have alternate leafs along a fleshy stem, which creeps and grows just above the soil surface. Rex begonias are easy to propagate via leaf cuttings, or even stem cuttings, or division in more established plants. 'Red Kiss' has bright metallic red leaves with a dark pink centre and dark pink/black margin.


Planting

From Late Spring TO Early Summer

Rex Begonias prefer a moist but well draining soil, and prefer a slightly a slightly acidic or neutral compost mix. All begonias are frost tender, and Rex Begonias tend to be grown indoors as houseplants where they prefer growing temperatures of around 21C (70F) and with absolute minimum temperature of 10C (50F). They require high levels of humidity, approximately 50% or above (dependent on the specific cultivar/variety) and they do well in a bright light position. However, they do not want to be sitting in direct or full sun conditions. An hour or two of sun in the early morning or late evening can may be fine for some varieties, and getting the lighting right is key to ensuring a good colouring of the foliage. If light is coming from one side, ensure you turn the pots frequently to ensure even growth across the plant. Plants can be repotted as they get bigger, ensuring to only increase the pot size gradually by an inch or couple of centimetres at a time, and a good time to do this is in mid spring when the plants are about to start growing again after the cooler winter.

 

Propagation by Leaf Cuttings

From Early Spring TO Late Winter

Rex Begonias may be propagated by leaf cuttings to make additional plants. As they are generally grown indoors as houseplants, this form of propagation can be done anytime of year, and generally will produce many new plants from one cutting. There are two methods to propagate Rex Begonias, which involve either sections of a leaf, or a single leaf. Both require first the preparation of a shallow pot (or tray) of a well draining compost mix. This should be watered from below using another tray or placing in a sink. Do not water from above. Depending on the variety or size of the foliage, you can then follow either of these two methods; 1) Leaf Squares/Sections - Cut off a large leaf. Then using a clean knife, divide the leaf into square sections of approximately three quarters of an inch square in size, or even an inch square. Arrange the leaf cuttings flat on the surface of the compost approximately half an inch apart so that they are making contact with the compost, top side facing upwards. Ensure that they are evenly spaced out and have good air circulation around them. If the variety has hairy or heavy wrinkled foliage, sometimes it is better to place the square sections vertically in the compost rather than flat to avoid them rotting off too quickly - bury just deep enough to hold the section in place, and ensuring the base of the leaf is in the compost and not the top of the leaf; 2) Leaf Slashing - Cut off a large leaf. On a flat surface, turn the leaf over to expose the underside and the leaf veins. Take a clean knife and make 1-2cm slashes across a number of leaf veins, thus damaging it slightly. Try to keep the cuts spaced out over the leaf and no more than one cut per square inch. Turn the leaf back over and place it flat on the compost. Ensure the underside of the leaf (particularly those areas damaged by the cuts) come into contact with the soil. If this is difficult, you can use wire staples or something similar to peg it into the compost (such as the unfolded metal from paper clips). For both techniques above, once the cuttings are in the tray or pot, cover them initially with a clear propagator lid (or similar) to allow light in, ensure humidity is kept high, and keep it in a warm place around 21C/70F. After a few weeks, little plantlets will start to emerge. Harden these off by first removing the propagator lid for a few days, then pot up the plantlets when they are large enough to handle without damage.

 

Propagation by Stem Cuttings

From Early Spring TO Late Winter

Rex Begonias can be propagated by using pieces of the rhizome. They act as a type of stem cutting. You can use either a shallow pot or a tray, filled with suitable cuttings or multipurpose compost. Water the pot or tray from the base (do not water from above) by placing it in another tray or container with a shallow layer of water. The water will be drawn up into your cuttings tray. Using a clean knife, cut sections of the rhizome from the parent plant into two inch sections, removing the largest of leaves. Make sure the rhizome has good contact with the compost, but not buried more than half way up the stem. Keep the cuttings moist (no wet) and humidity high by covering the tray or pot with a clear lid or clear bag. Place the tray or pot in a warm environment of around 18-21C (65-70F). After a few weeks, roots will form and new growth will appear from the nodes producing a new plant. Once rooted and signs of new growth are visible, pot on the individual cuttings in fresh compost in individual pots to grow on. As most Rex Begonias are grown as houseplants, cuttings can be taken any time of year however they may root and grow quicker during the growing season of Spring and Summer.

 
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