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Of all the many form of industrial plant you may grow without ever seeing the light of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , Rex begoniasare one of the most satisfactory .
Do Rex Begonias Like Artificial Light?
Growing Rex Begonias underfluorescent luminosity produce beautiful plants and leafage .
Perhaps because they ’re primarily leafage plants , and do n’t postulate great quantities of sunlight , something no electric engineer has yet managed to multiply .
Or perhaps because artificial lights provide something , not yet discovered , which rexes ask .
Whatever the rationality , it is apparent – Rex begonias like the artificial lights .
Semperfiorens begonia may turn wan , sickly green and refuse to bloom .
saint wings drop their leaves , and wo n’t even conceive making a bud .
But Rexes thrive .
This puddle many indoor grower glad because their home has no unspoiled growing readiness like video windows .
No Space For A Greenhouse – Try The Basement
Their lot has no outer space to spare even for a skimpy - to greenhouse .
However , some houses have a basement large enough to keep back shelf upon fluorescent fixture - lighted ledge they can keep quick and humid .
This is the rex begonia ’ growing orbit .
Their “ show ” area is upstairs , where fine specimens are put on showing for a while , then pass to thebasement greenhouseand replaced with Modern industrial plant .
And by the way , some Rexes can survive in a dark , darkish livelihood way much longer than others .
Soft , velvety varieties show ill effects much more rapidly than those with harder - textured leaves .
Except for the artificial luminosity , many spring up Rex begonias much the same as more fortunate enthusiast with suitable window or honest - to - good nursery .
Using a potting mix is on the humusy side , enriched with bone meal and slow - act as fertiliser keep back nourishing plant when you bury hebdomadary soluble feedings .
Some suspect that clay pots have a slight boundary on the plastic container , and allow the roots to catch one’s breath better . You should experiment to ensure .
Propagate From Leaves
Propagate successfully from leave – with the multiplication boxes also under lights .
fluorescent fixture - lighted shelf in the basement give you the prerogative of take in more dissimilar smorgasbord than you could ever make room for without prompt to another , larger space .
One period about light is emphatically in their favor .
At first , like other beginners , many do not realize that Rexes incline to go dormant for a few months in winter .
Many a runty looking resting works is thrown out because its owner thinks it is dead .
Strangely , some never instruct about dormancy for some time , because their Rexes did n’t break down back .
Those without a fluorescent light growing expanse may see seeing rootstock after rootstalk with almost no leaf , but here and there a new shoot amount out as the plant take back to lifespan .
This often does not happen in the fluorescent Light Within grow room .
Is it because the Rexes have 16 hr of sparkle a day , every day , with no days lighter or sinister than others .
Perhaps the plants do n’t know it ’s winter – or at least , do n’t realise how glowering and dreary winter can be .
In former spring , when new growth arrive , it merely adds to the older foliage which has been restfully wait out the temperate winter .
The Down Side Of Growing Rex Begonias Under Lights
On the other hand , one gene not in favor of hokey visible radiation .
Many Rex leaves are not as brightly colored as those grown naturally .
For example , when compared with one on a light windowpane sill , and the green is not quite so gullible , the Bolshevik not quite so brilliant .
An expert could explain whether this indicates insufficient wattage , or whether it ’s just a lack in the hokey Christ Within of any intensity .
Despite their tempered coloring , Rex begonia have take prizes from flush shows .
And they have the broadest , most exciting kind of the bright colors and patterns of any group of plants we love – grown under lights or not .
