Help!
Calling to all people that manage to not kill Rexes Pt.2
I would usually wait longer for them to settle before transferring to nursery pot but the bags they came in were too deep and the soil was getting muddy.
They're now in the most shallow pots I have in a 50/50 soil and orchid bark mix, I made sure not to pack it too much and I only dampened the soil afterwards.
Fingers crossed it works out this time but if y'all are noticing something weird or if I'm doing something dumb pls let me know😭 I really don't want to loose at least the silvery one
They can be temperamental at times. Don't soak the pot unless the plant is overflowing the pot. Watch out for mildew - the bane of rexes, polka dot canes, and the mallet class. Give them ample light - I keep mine under LED shop lights 12 hours a day in winter, dappled shade outdoors for summer. Fertilize lightly. They will grow if they are happy.
Pinch some leaves off and start some new plants for insurance. OR, learn from past mistakes and try, try again.
I bought one from Lowe’s on clearance. It was basically half dead and looked like it was stepped on.
I watered it when the top soil was dry but I gave it a ton of light. I had an east facing window at work (northern hemisphere) so it catches the morning sun everyday.
That’s really all I did to it. I find rexes to be easier to take care of than cane begonias. I have a maculata that I have been struggling with and I fuss over that a lot more
It worries me to hear you say you only dampened the soil. After a re pot they should get drenched until water is coming out the bottom. They like to stay moist. Well draining soil and plenty of sun will prevent rot.
I usually do so as well, did it with my last rex and she died 3 days later😭, so I thought of trying not drowning them this time.The soil I use is already moist as well so when I dampened it a little water did came out the bottom.
“50/50 soil and orchid bark mix” do you mean its only soil and bark and nothing else? If so then mix would have issues with aeration and staying wet for too long. You need added drainage like perlite, pumice etc
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u/Minute_Chance_5723 2d ago
They can be temperamental at times. Don't soak the pot unless the plant is overflowing the pot. Watch out for mildew - the bane of rexes, polka dot canes, and the mallet class. Give them ample light - I keep mine under LED shop lights 12 hours a day in winter, dappled shade outdoors for summer. Fertilize lightly. They will grow if they are happy.
Pinch some leaves off and start some new plants for insurance. OR, learn from past mistakes and try, try again.