How to take begonia leaf cuttings

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Sunday, 24 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

Increase your stock of rex begonias by taking leaf cuttings.

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To do

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Summer is the ideal time to take leaf cuttings from your houseplants and begonias propagate well from leaf cuttings. A young plant will erupt from tissue along the leaf veins and then root into the compost. Then you simply separate each new plant from the mother leaf and pot it on.

A single leaf can produce many young plants, which you can use to increase your own stock of begonias or give to friends. This technique can be used for all begonias but is particularly useful for foliage plants such as Begonia rex.

You Will Need

Healthy begonia plant
Clean, sharp knife and cutting board
Pots
Free-draining compost, equal parts multi-purpose and perlite
Clear polythene bags

Total time: 1 hour

Step 1

Propagating begonia - removing the leaves

Cut a young, clean, healthy leaf from right at the base. Cut off its stalk.

Step 2

Propagating begonia - laying leaf pieces on compost

Make slashes along the underside of the main vein. Pin the whole leaf down onto firmed, moist compost.

Step 3

Propagating begonia - rooted leaf begonia cuttings

Warmth and moisture will encourage growth at the damaged parts of the vein. Several young plants will form on each leaf.

Roots and new plants will develop from the vein at the base of each cutting. You can tease the pot of plantlets apart and grow them on separately or transplant them as a group to produce a bushier pot plant.