Rex Begonia also known as Painted-leaf begonia have striking foliage. They come in a variety of colors with varying leaf shape. They’re moderately easy (read: Not super easy indoors) to care for and offer pops of color to an indoor space or outdoor garden or porch/patio.

They need moderate to bright indirect light. Water weekly and allow the top surface of the soil to feel dry to the touch (partially dry not bone dry) between waterings. They prefer high humidity, but I would not mist because they’re prone to mildew and rotting. They are happiest at 65-75 degrees F. If you’re cold, they’re cold. 😉 Most common problems are due to overwatering that rots the plant or underwatering which dries it out and makes the leaves look soft. This can be tricky if you’re new to caring for plants. They are a bit particular. It’s also sad because they can go downhill quickly if overwatered.

Another problem is mealy bugs which are easily treated with neem oil. They’re for zone 7-11 as perennials, but can be brought indoors in other zones (I’m zone 6a) when temps dip below 60. Treat them as annuals that can be brought indoors. This makes them wonderful container plants or use in hanging planters outdoors. I recommend terra cotta pots for these. Can feed a water soluble fertilizer once every couple of weeks and stop when growth slows down.

They’re easily propagated through leaf cutting or division. A stem with leaf cutting can be placed in water or make small cuts on the underside of the main vein of the leaf and place the leaf in moist soil. Cover with plastic. Some people use toothpicks or fern pins to ensure the leaf is touching the soil due to the texture of the leaf.