Step-by-step recommendations for breeding begonia leaf at home
The method of reproduction of begonias is chosen depending on what species the begonia belongs to and what kind of root system it has. There are several methods of flower propagation: by seeds, cuttings, tubers and rhizomes, and leaf propagation.
If you need to get several young begonias at once, then it will be most suitable to propagate it with a leaf. As a planting material, one large, healthy and undamaged begonia leaf is chosen.
You can propagate by leaf only begonias with a downy under the leaf, as well as flowers with a creeping stem.
Step by step recommendations
There are three ways of leaf propagation of begonias.
Method 1. Cut the sheet into several pieces. It is necessary to cut with a sharp knife from the middle to the edge, while taking into account that there is at least one vein in each fragment. Up to 10 triangular fragments can be obtained from one sheet.
Place the leaf fragments in separate containers with prepared substrate or sand. Or you can plant it cut-down in a mixture of sand and soil. Create a mini greenhouse for each plant: cover with foil, a lid, or a cut plastic bottle. Spray the leaves periodically to maintain a humid microclimate inside the greenhouses, but do not flood them so that the plants do not rot.
After the first leaves appear (after about 20 days), you need to gradually harden the begonia - remove the film or cap, each time increasing the time.
It takes 3 months to grow new plantings, then they are transplanted to a permanent place in a pot. In this case, the soil around the root collar of a young flower should not be tamped, so as not to break the shoots and not interfere with its development. It is enough just to pour water on it.
Method 2. Take a large begonia leaf with a cutting about 7 cm and cut it across the veins. Next, put the sheet with its front side on moistened ground, straighten it and lightly press down with pebbles near the cuts.
Cover the container with foil on top and place in a warm, sunny place. When caring for a seedling, it is better to spray the ground, not water. In a month, new plants will appear, and then the film must be removed. Grown up young begonias dive into separate flowerpots.
Method 3. This method is the easiest, but only one new flower can be grown. Cut off a healthy leaf of the plant from the cutting and place in a glass of water. Add 1 tablet of activated carbon to the water. Some growers also add root roots. If over time the leaf begins to rot, you need to cut it a little and change the water.
After the roots appear, plant the leaf in a pot. As soon as a new begonia bush forms, the old leaf will die off.