How to propagate begonia with leaves: a step-by-step master class with a photo

Care

After new leaves began to appear on the shoots, the shelter must be removed. It is necessary to transplant the flower to a permanent site of residence. The ideal conditions for a young plant that reproduces are as follows.

• The container for a new flower does not have to be huge. For a start, a sufficient size is 710-810 millimeters. There should be holes at the bottom of the pot so that excess liquid can drain. It is better to use a ceramic pot than a metal one.
• The soil for this plant can be purchased at special flower shops. To independently prepare the soil, mix 2 parts of sod land and 1 part of leaf humus, sand and peat. To prevent the root system of the flower from rotting, a drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the container.
• Begonia must be well provided with light. But the hot sun can burn the leaves of the flower. Therefore, in the summer, it is necessary to place the flower on the east or west windowsill.

Temperature

The normal temperature for a plant is considered to be room temperature, about 21-26 degrees. In winter, the temperature is needed in the range of 16-19 degrees. This flower needs high humidity, but you should not spray the plant with water. Therefore, it is necessary to move the container onto the support in the tray with the liquid. Stones can serve as a stand.

Watering

Water the plant abundantly, but do not spray on the stems and leaves. You can water the flower through the pallet; for this, the container must be placed in a container with liquid for 21-31 minutes. The irrigation liquid must be settled and have room temperature. In winter, watering should be reduced, and tuberous varieties should not be watered at all at this time of year.

Top dressing

When flowering begins, you need to use complex mineral fertilizers and add them to the plant before the end of the flowering time. Additional nitrogen fertilization for the flower is not used. But if the plant becomes weak and lethargic, then nitrogen fertilizers can be used.

Transplant and pinching

When springtime comes, it is necessary to transplant a flower into a wide pot. But if the root system has grown quickly, and the plant has become cramped, then the transplant can be done in another period. As soon as the flower has been transplanted, it must be placed after a while in a darkened room. Then you need to form a bush. It is necessary to pinch the main shoots so that additional ones are formed. Weak branches and faded buds must be removed.

Several options for leaf propagation

"Breeding" begonias with a leaf is the most economical way, because several bushes can be grown from one leaf plate.

Whichever method you choose, always use healthy, strong leaves.

It is believed that varieties are propagated by this method, the leaves of which are pubescent from the inside out. The method is also suitable for creeping varieties. Do not forget about species that practically do not have a stem (Elatior, Mason) - for them such reproduction is the main one.

Method 1: one leaf - ten bushes

In this case, the leaf is cut into several (up to ten) pieces. Use only the sharpest possible tool - a blunt one crushes the tissue of the plant, which will not lead to anything good. Also, it would not hurt to sterilize it (wipe it with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol).

Step-by-step "recipe" for reproduction:

1. Cut the leaf so that at least 1 vein remains on each piece. Most often, the pieces are formed in the form of triangles.
2. Prepare a small container for each piece (this can be a disposable cup, a cassette with seedling cells, peat tablets). The leaf is either laid on top of the ground with the pubescent part down (so that it lies tightly on the substrate, it should be pressed on top with a pebble), or it is stuck with a cut. The primer can be clean sand or a mixture of sand and peat.
3. Form a greenhouse over the "pots". For example, you can place the cassette in a large transparent plastic tray with a lid, and flip cans or cut bottles over disposable cups. Many people use transparent bags.
4. From time to time, a little fresh air should be allowed into the greenhouse. In this case, the leaves must be sprayed. This moisture will be enough for them - do not water them, so that water does not stagnate in the "pots".
5. Three weeks later, the leaf will begin to take root. This will be seen by the growing leaves. The time has come to harden the new plant: for 20-30 minutes (further - longer) remove the greenhouse, allowing the plant to gradually adapt to the temperature in the room.
6. Three months later, young begonias can dive. Take the "adult" soil. Never tamp it in a pot. And so that when planting the soil does not turn out to be too loose, the flower can be watered.

Method 2: whole leaf

You need 1 large leaf and 1 pot of about the same width.

An important point: the leaf must have a stalk-leg (at least 7 cm long).

1. Cut a sheet across the veins (cutting each large one) and lay it on top of the ground, sticking it into the ground with a handle. The soil must be well sprayed.
2. Press it down lightly with perlite or something similar.
3. You need to form a greenhouse over it (there is nothing easier - they threw in a transparent bag, and you're done).
4. It should be germinated on a sunny windowsill, in a warm place. Sometimes it is required to ventilate, spray.
5. Young plants will appear in about 30 days.

When you see the nascent bushes, you can remove the bag.

As soon as the "guys" get stronger, you can dive them into disposable cups.

Method 3: leaf-cutting

The most elementary method, but also the least economical: 1 bush will grow from one leaf.

1. Choose a leaf with a long stem.
2. Put in a glass or a glass of water (or even better - "Kornevin" or succinic acid). And so that the stalk does not rot, you can also add charcoal (crushed wood or activated) to the glass.
3. If you do see rot at the tip of the cutting, cut it back and replace the water.
4. When you see the roots, you can transplant the leaf into a small pot of soil.

Seeing that the first leaves of a new bush are coming out of the soil, do not rush to cut off the old begonia leaf. It will feed the young plant for some time. When he gives up all his useful juices, he dies - then you cut him off (only carefully and with a very sharp knife, so as not to accidentally pull out the young "creature").

Begonia: reproduction in the main ways

Most begonias reproduce in the following ways:

• cuttings;
• parts of the sheet;
• seeds;
• dividing the bush.

If you do not take into account the peculiarities of each type of begonia, then the plant will not take root or bloom, therefore, first of all, you need to know exactly the variety of your flower. Let's consider each breeding method in more detail.

Cuttings. First you need to cut a small stalk with a clean knife. Try to choose a stem that has several leaves. The latter will have to be removed, and the uppermost ones should be slightly trimmed.

Separately prepare a pot of potting soil, which can be purchased at the store or mixed with your own hands. In a small hole made in the ground, lower the cutting and cover with soil. For better growth, you can use special growth stimulants. The cutting itself must be protected from drafts and cold by covering it with a plastic bottle or plastic bag.After a while, the young begonia will take root and young leaves will appear on it. It is necessary to accustom to the air gradually and very carefully.

Reproduction by a sheet. This option is ideal for those begonias that do not have a stem. Moreover, even from one leaf, you can get many new shoots. To do this, you need to cut off a large, healthy leaf, spread it on the table and cut it into triangular leaves, moving in the direction from the middle of the vein to the edges.

Each of these pieces must have one or two veins. Stick the leaves into the soil and cover with plastic. The essence of the method is to create the required level of air humidity, therefore it is recommended to periodically irrigate the soil with a pulverizer. When young leaves appear, you can "acquaint" the plant with fresh air by removing the bag for several minutes a day.

Reproduction by seeds. Suitable for flowering begonias. The seeds can be purchased at any specialty store. Before planting, be sure to mix the soil with sand and slightly moisten it. Press the seeds into the ground, and then cover with earth and cover with a bag. Place in a warm, well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. Seedlings will sprout in a few weeks. It can be transplanted into separate containers as soon as the first leaf comes out.

Division of a bush or rhizome. If begonia grows in a bush, it can be divided and planted. To do this, you need to get the plant out of the pot and gently wash the roots in warm water. Using a sharp knife, cut the rhizome into pieces so that each has a sprout or bud.

If you are the owner of a tuberous begonia, then you can take the opportunity and propagate the flower by dividing the tuber. As soon as small shoots appear in early spring, they must be cut off with a sharp knife and divided into parts, dried. After landing in open ground, half-buried and covered with a bag.

It is important not to forget about drainage for each sprout, otherwise the roots may start to rot, as well as the need to use a small pot in the early stages of growth, sometimes a plastic cup will be enough. Begonia and its reproduction at home is a simple and very pleasant business, because flowers can decorate your home all year round.

Begonia bowerae "Tiger"

Video: Decorative leafy begonia: propagation by a leaf or its fragment.

Botanical features of ever-flowering begonia

Charles Plumier became the discoverer of begonia, who compiled a botanical description of the genus in detail. He was a monk who traveled extensively to collect and study wild crops. In the middle of the 17th century, he arrived in the Antilles, where he met this magnificently blooming fragrant flower. The name of the culture was given in honor of the Governor of Haiti - Begon.

The birthplace of Begonia is considered the western part of Africa. There is a hypothesis that begonia migrated from this hot country to America and Asia. However, even today in Africa, a third of the entire variety of begonias is actively blooming.

Ever-flowering begonia or Begonia semperflorens is the largest representative of the Begoniev family. The genus has more than 1000 subspecies, the natural habitat of which are mountain slopes, tropical forests and subtropics. Mostly begonias are found in the southern strip of America. But many species grow in the mountains of India, the Malay archipelago, and also in the Himalayas.

Given the huge popularity of begonias in home floriculture, almost 2 thousand hybrid species and varieties have been bred. They differ in shape, color of inflorescences and leaves.

The general distinguishing features of the genus of ever-flowering begonias are considered to be the following:

• Begonia is a medium-sized bushy crop with straight shoots that can grow up to 55-60 cm in height.
• Adult plants are slightly modified, and straight shoots acquire an ampelous shape.
• Flowers of ever-flowering begonia can be large or medium. The diameter of the opened bud is 2.5-5 cm.
• The leaves of begonia are of an ever-flowering rounded shape, slightly pubescent along the perimeter. The size of each leaf varies from 4 to 6 cm, the color can be different - light or dark green, less often with a red tint.
• Flowers in groups are tied into inflorescences, quickly fade, constantly being replaced by new ones. With proper care, they bloom incessantly.

Breeding begonias with stem cuttings at home

Propagation of begonias by stem cuttings is the most common and effective method of flower propagation. In this way, it is possible to propagate almost any kind of begonias - the main thing is that the plant has a stem and shoots that can be cuttings. Florists prefer this breeding option because of the ease of implementation and the large percentage of successful rooting of the shoot. There are several options for growing a young plant in this way.

Propagation of begonias by leaf cuttings

The roots can be grown well by holding the planting material for some time in water, or immediately planting it in nutritious moist soil:

1. The main condition is the presence of shoots in an adult plant, from which a part with 2-3 internodes can be cut off. The stalk should be cut with a thin sterile instrument. Both the tip of the shoot and its middle part are suitable.
2. It is desirable that it is about 8-12 cm in length, with a few leaves left at the top.
3. Leaves that are too large should be reduced.
4. The lower leaves are removed. It is desirable that there are no ovary of flowers and blossoming buds on the cuttings; they must be removed so that the plant does not waste energy on them.
5. The plant from which the planting material is collected must be healthy. There should be no signs of rot and viral diseases. You can treat the cutting with a fungicide solution, after which it must be dried for several hours.

You can root the cutting in water, followed by planting in a substrate, or immediately in a substrate. Each method has its own pros and cons.

In the case of rooting in water, roots grow faster, but there is a risk that the cutting will start to rot. In addition, this method is more laborious and consists of several stages:

1. It is best to use a transparent container, such as a glass, for this method.
2. Pour soft filtered water at room temperature into it.
3. You can add 1 tablet of activated charcoal or a small amount of a growth stimulant, for example, Kornevin, to the water. This will promote faster root growth.
4. The stalk is immersed in 2 internodes in water.
5. The liquid must be changed daily to fresh.
6. Place the container with water in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight.
7. The most optimal air temperature for rooting is + 20-22 degrees.

The first roots should appear within 1-3 weeks.

When they grow a little (up to 2-4 cm), the seedling can be planted in a pot in a permanent place. Planting takes place in accordance with the requirements for caring for the cultivated variety. It is best to use special begonias soil for this. At the bottom of the pot, there must be a drainage layer of stones or pebbles. In the future, the flower requires standard care.

Rooting of the cuttings in a special substrate is possible:

1. To do this, it is necessary to pour begonias soil mixed with sand in equal proportions into any pot.
2. Before planting the cutting in the prepared soil, it is recommended to treat its cut with a growth stimulator.
3. After, with a stick, it is necessary to make a depression in the soil and insert a stalk into it until the leaves.
4. After sprinkling it with earth and pressing it well, you should water the soil around the cutting.
5. Then, the young plant is covered with a cut plastic bottle, jar, or cellophane.
6. The pot with the plant must be placed in a well-lit room with an air temperature of + 18-22 degrees.
7. It needs to be watered regularly.

Their appearance means that begonias must be accustomed to fresh air. It is necessary to open the seedling every day, increasing the time spent in the air every day by 10-15 minutes. Once the flower has fully adapted to its environment, it is ready to be planted.

It will also be interesting: Reproduction of lilies - cuttings, bulbs, bulbs, scales, seeds, stem and leaf

How to propagate tuberous begonia with stem cuttings

To propagate begonias with stem cuttings, you will need:

• special soil for begonias,
• small pot
• sharp knife
• wand,
• any root stimulant.

1. Pour soil into the seedling pot.

2. Water the soil abundantly, avoiding excessive waterlogging. It should be completely saturated.

3. Examine the mother plant carefully. For propagation, choose a sturdy stalk at least 10 cm long. It should have at least two nodes.

4. In order not to unnecessarily injure the plant, the knife must be very sharp. Cut off the stalk at a sharp angle. So the cut area will be larger, which means that there will be more roots.

5. The cut line should be at a distance of 0.5 to 1 cm from the kidney. Watch closely where the kidney is. It should "look" outward from the trimmed edge, in other words, in the opposite direction. Remove the bottom sheet.

6. Take a root stimulant. If it's granular, grind it up. This way the remedy will work faster and have a greater effect.

7. To make the dry powder "stick" to the cuttings, first dip the cut into water.

8. Then dip the wet cut into the rooting stimulator.

9. Let's go back to the soil. During the time that we were engaged in cutting, the soil was completely saturated and ready for planting. Take any stick (pencil, knitting needle, etc.) and make a depression in it several centimeters long.

10. Lower the plant into the formed hole.

11. Use your fingers to firmly press the soil around the plant.

12. Begonia does not like dry air. Humidity should always be at least 60%. The ideal rooting temperature is 22-24 ° C. To create such conditions for the plant, the stalk must be placed in a greenhouse. If you do not have such a shelter, a regular plastic bag or a transparent plastic bucket can replace it.

13

Important: the plant should not touch the shelter leaves. Place the stalk in a shaded area

By the way, it is partial shade that is the best place for begonias. There she will delight with more abundant and long-lasting flowering.

The first sign that the stalk has taken root is the appearance of young leaves from the axils of the leaves. When this happens, remove the cover.

In caring for begonia, you need to remember that the plant is moisture-loving. However, with an excess of moisture and lack of drainage, the roots will quickly rot and the plant will die. Water the flower only after the soil in the pot is completely dry.

As you can see, there are no difficulties in propagating tuberous leaf cuttings of begonia. What method do you most often use to breed begonias?

How does a plant propagate with a leaf?

Leaf propagation of begonias is used very often. Positive characteristics of the method:

• the loss of one leaf does not adversely affect the appearance and health of the flower;
• the procedure does not require much time and special skills;
• productive, since up to 10 shoots are obtained from one leaf plate;
• for some species (hybrids), this method of reproduction is one of the few possible;
• the plant will look like a mother;
• the planting material will feed itself at first.

For work you will need:

1. sharp knife or blade;
2. priming;
3. landing capacity.

At first, plastic cups are suitable for planting material, but then young plants are transferred to clay pots. Their porous structure will increase air exchange processes and moisture evaporation.

All instruments and containers are washed and disinfected before use with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate.

The optimum temperature for survival and germination is +24 ° C.

Dividing the sheet

For this method, leaves are chosen without spots and damages, whose inside is covered with fluff. The wider the plate, the more sprouts you get. The sheet is carefully cut or trimmed with scissors.

Further actions:

1. The sheet is cut into several pieces with a knife. The division is done from the middle to the edges so that the longitudinal veins pass inside the segment. You cannot tear, otherwise the tissues will be damaged and the fragments will wither.
2. Each part is planted with a lower cut into the ground, deepening by one quarter. If desired, they are pre-dipped in powder to stimulate root formation.
3. They make a mini-greenhouse: cover with a film and create partial shade. After a day, the shelter is removed for airing for 30 minutes, then 20-30 minutes a day are added.
4. As it dries, the substrate is moistened by spraying from a spray bottle, protecting the leaves from droplets.

The first shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks. A month later, they begin to accustom to the open air.

Do not remove the old leaf, as there are still nutrients left in it.

How to propagate begonia with a leaf is described in the video:

Wholly

The sequence of the procedure:

1. on the back of the sheet along the veins, cuts are made with an interval of 2 cm;
2. laid horizontally on a moistened substrate, pressed with small stones for fixation;
3. cover with foil and put in a darkened warm place.

The leaf takes root for an average of 2 months, the roots appear at the site of the cuts. Later, children appear who are ready to be transplanted to a permanent place.

From the video you will learn how to grow begonia from a leaf:

Rooting in water

The way the roots develop in water gives a better chance of getting a young begonia. For rooting, a healthy leaf with a long petiole is cut off.

Further actions:

1. boiled water is poured into a transparent glass with the addition of half a tablet of activated carbon;
2. the sheet is lowered so that it does not fall through, and the leg goes 2 cm into the water;
3. it is advisable to cover the glass with a bag to create a greenhouse effect;
4. when roots appear, they are transplanted.

Landing

To grow tuberous begonia at home conditions can be done in two ways - by sowing seeds into the soil or using the tuber of an already mature plant

When growing begonias from seeds, it is important where they will grow in the future. So, for example, if you plan to grow this perennial as a houseplant, then sowing seeds should be done in December, and if you want to grow a plant in a garden, then you can sow seeds for seedlings in early spring

The technique for growing begonias from seeds is as follows.

Granular seeds of a certain variety are purchased.
Peat tablets are used as a nutrient medium, which must first be soaked in warm water and placed in a container for seed germination.
We put each individual seed on the surface of a peat tablet (on a small depression there) and sprinkle with warm water, while it is not necessary to bury the seeds in the soil.
The container with peat tablets and sown seeds should be covered with glass or plastic wrap, and then placed in a warm place where there is enough light.
Periodically, the film must be removed for the flow of fresh air and drip irrigation of future seedlings - while it is important to ensure that the peat soil does not dry out.
From the moment of emergence of shoots (this happens after 14-15 days), the first top dressing from mineral components is added dropwise, dissolving it in warm water at a dosage of 1: 4 of the recommended values.
In the phase of the appearance of a third leaf in seedlings, peat tablets can be planted in small containers with soil for further formation of the root system, while the film is removed for an increasingly long time, accustoming the plant to the temperature regime of the environment.
After waiting until the young plant is strong enough, it can be planted in a small pot or transferred to the garden, when it becomes warm, to its permanent habitat.

When planting a young begonia in a pot, one must remember that its volume should be 1-2 centimeters larger than the previous one. If you transplant the begonia immediately into a large container, then you can not wait for flowering - the plant will put all its strength into rooting in a large space for it.

A slightly different technique is used to grow begonias from a tuber. Its essence is as follows.

Planting material can be purchased in specialized nurseries or dug up in the fall in the garden.
All shoots must be removed from the tuber and placed in a container with soil, which is transferred to a basement with an air temperature of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.
In February, the tubers need to be placed in moist soil, where they will germinate at temperatures up to 20 degrees, good soil moisture and sufficient lighting.
As soon as buds of future shoots appear on the tuber, it is cut into pieces each having one shoot, and the cut sites are treated with coal powder and dried, thereby preventing putrefactive diseases.
Now parts of the tuber with future shoots are planted in containers with wet soil, while deepening the tuber no more than half

If small leaves have already appeared, then it is important to ensure that they do not come into contact with the soil, otherwise rot may develop on them, leading to the death of the plant.
For 20 days, young shoots need to be looked after - moisten the soil and provide good lighting and warmth. After this time, the plants can be transplanted to a permanent place of their growth.

In this case, one must not forget to add mineral fertilizing to the soil for better rooting and growth of begonias.

When growing begonias from a tuber, you need to ensure that the soil is not waterlogged.

In addition, it is important to choose the right pot in terms of volume - it should not be too large or too small. It is enough that the new container is a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one

If you plan to plant begonia in open ground, you need to immediately choose a place where it will be provided with good and uniform lighting, as well as protection from drafts and strong winds.

Algorithm for breeding begonia leaf at home

Experienced flower growers are well aware of flower propagation. Nevertheless, for each individual subspecies of begonia, there are a number of nuances of reproduction at home. Leaf breeding is most important for those varieties that grow without a stem and cannot propagate by cuttings, including for climbing begonias.

First of all, you need to choose a healthy and large leaf. Carefully, with a sterile sharp instrument, separate it from the stem, not forgetting to process the cut site with crushed activated carbon.

The sheet itself must be laid out on a flat and clean surface, preferably on glass. After that, from the middle (largest) vein to the edges, the sheet is cut into triangles

It is important that there are several veins in each such triangle. More than 10 fragments suitable for propagation can be prepared from one large leaf:

1. Place each triangle in a separate container.
2. On the prepared soil (wet sand is best suited for these purposes), the cut parts of the leaf are laid out.
3. The edges of the triangles can be sprinkled with sand, or you can stick the lower vein into the sand to a depth of one centimeter - both methods are good enough.
4. The most important point is to cover the planting material with foil or cellophane, thus creating a mini-greenhouse.
5. It is necessary to maintain a stable humidity inside, periodically spraying the leaves from a spray bottle.

One of the options for the correct preparation of planting material is shown in the photo.

After a month and a half, when the first leaves appear on the young plant, you can gradually open the greenhouse for 5-10 minutes, accustoming the planting material to a normal environment. It is necessary to increase the airing time of the plant daily. If everything is done correctly, then after three months from the moment of planting, the leaves will take root and will be suitable for transplanting into separate cups.

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How to water and fertilize ever-flowering begonia?

Everyone knows that without proper watering and regular feeding, it is difficult for any plant to grow and look attractive. Begonia is no exception in this matter, and if summer does not please with rains, then the flower needs regular watering.

Watering this flower loves in the early morning or when the heat has already subsided. But for irrigation, you need to use the wrong water that flows from the tap. First, the water must be defended for at least a day, and only then watering. But you do not need to water much, so as not to flood the plant. Begonia dislikes both drought and excessive moisture, so it's best to stick to moderation with this plant.

About once every two weeks, flower beds with ever-flowering begonia should be given special attention. The land needs to be loosened, the weeds must be removed and fed with fertilizer

The top dressing should be mineral-rich, selected from specialty stores for flowering plants.

For those who wish to extend flowering for the winter period, you just need to transplant the plants into pots, and then transfer the flower to a warm room. Thus, ever-flowering begonia will delight you on cold, long evenings until spring.