How to propagate Begonia
This article introduces you to how to propagate Begonias and the techniques for cutting propagation of Begonia flowers, which will surely be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
Begonia is a perennial herbaceous shrub from Brazil with strong reproductive abilities. Both stems and leaves can be used for propagation, using soil or water as the growing medium. There are many varieties of Begonia, with double and single petals, flower colors include red, white, and pink, and leaf colors include green, copper purple, and deep brown. It is a common绿化 plant and many gardening enthusiasts grow it at home. Below, I will introduce the cutting propagation method for Begonia.
I. Propagation Time
Spring and autumn are generally suitable, and cuttings can also survive in winter. The optimal growth temperature for Begonia is 15 to 24°C. In southern regions, the warm and humid months of April and May are most suitable for propagation, with a temperature of around 20°C making it easier for cuttings to root and survive. If the temperature is too high, the cuttings are prone to rot, especially when soil moisture is high in summer, so it is not suitable to propagate in summer.
II. Preparing Cuttings
Select a healthy two-year-old stem with two buds and three or four nodes. Use a disinfected sharp blade to cut a 10 cm long stem diagonally from 1 cm below the last node. Remove the top tender bud of the cutting, and if there are flower buds, cut them off as well. Reduce the number of leaves, retaining three or four, and place them in a shaded area to dry for two days until the cut surface turns slightly white before propagation. Reduce watering for the mother plant by 15 days in advance to slow down growth, making the cuttings less slender and fragile, thus easier to survive after propagation. Additionally, Begonia leaves can also be propagated through cuttings.
III. Growing Methods
1. Direct Soil Cultivation
Choose a soil with good drainage and aeration, such as clean fine river sand or soft sandy soil as the growing medium. It is best to disinfect and sterilize the soil. Do not use nutrient-rich soil or leaf mold for propagation, as excessive fertilizer or too much organic matter makes it harder for cuttings to root and more prone to rot.
Select the number of cuttings based on the size of the pot, with the pot diameter slightly larger than the size of one plant. If propagating multiple cuttings in a large pot, maintain a 3 cm spacing between plants. Use a stick to make holes in the soil, one-third the length of the cutting.
When propagating, place the cutting in the hole and slightly press the soil around the base, then place it in a low-light environment without direct sunlight to recover.
Do not water immediately after propagation to allow the cut to heal. Water thoroughly three to five days later and then do not water again, keeping the soil slightly moist. After about 10 days, the plant can grow roots 3 to 4 cm long, at which point it can be moved to a sunny location. Another 6 to 7 days later, it can be potted.
If the cuttings are first raised in a propagation bed, they need to wait for the new root parts to age before transplanting to a pot.
2. Water Culture Followed by Potting
Water culture has a high survival rate and can be used first before transplanting to soil. Culture the cuttings in clean water in a glass bottle, submerge the cutting part in water, and place it in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated area. When three fibrous roots have grown at the bottom, about 20 days later, they can be transplanted to the pot.
The comprehensive explanation provided above on how to propagate Begonias and the techniques for cutting propagation of Begonia flowers, I hope it can serve as a starting point and solve your problems with green plants.