You don't have an email address on your member page so this will have to do. Rexes (at least most rexes) will lose their leaves in winter. Pick off dead and diseased leaves to keep mildew at a minimum. Do not water heavily during these times ESPECIALLY if the room is cool. You have to give them enough water to keep the rhizomes plump but not too wet else the rhizomes will rot. Not an easy task. Humidity chambers (aquarium comes to mind) may help in this endeavor. I lost several last year despite being very careful on watering but the ones I lost were in a much cooler room than the ones I did not lose. I actually believe you can put them in a darker cool room (like a garage) and not water them for a month or longer and still be okay (I have done this before but it's hard to gauge when to water). Almost all of mine this year are doing fine because I have them all under lights and the room is a lot warmer than last year. Butch

Begonias are good plants to procrastinate with--at least so far as throwing them away--and it's much too soon to throw out a Rex. They do often seem to go through a dormant period in winter, and as temperatures rise and day length increases they'll come out of it and start to grow. I'm curious about your comment that misting them made them mildew. I've never done much misting, but I don't believe that should have had that effect unless there's a problem with your water. (One of the reasons I don't mist is the water here.) I wouldn't think it would be too necessary in California--more important perhaps in cold climates where heating dries out the air. And about the leaf rotting and getting thrown out--for next time!--I put down a left-over leaf last fall, just because I had it, and after several months it had obviously rotted and I thought I should dump it. Didn't get around to it for awhile--and then discovered a tiny little plant growing. You never know!

I would search for red rex begonias (images) and see if you can find any that match your memory. It does sound like a rex. Dragon Wings is a registered begonia name and is noted for its ever blooming red flowers (and there is a pink blooming one too) and how it holds up in full sun. Angel wing begonias is a common catch all phrase applied to lots of cane type begonias (not rexes).

Libby, if they are truly "rotting" it may be that you have them too wet. Alternatively, they may just need some protection from the dryness of the heated air in the house. Try covering one loosely, maybe with a clear plastic bag, for a couple weeks until the plantlet gets a chance to set some more roots.I use the foil cake trays with clear plastic lids as nurseries and have pretty good luck. Congratulations on getting lots of new babies. That takes patience. BB