Is that even possible? Thieves took most of my tuberous begonias or at least about a quarter of them, leaving just tiny pieces of broken stem that were semi wilted. I tried to save those but they all rotted.

I still have a few plants left (when I checked this weekend) and would like to get cuttings. So far I tried rooting them in water (so far seems to have saved the rex begonias that were both stolen*) and also tried moist soil (moist but not soggy wet.) and in a sealed bag. I also tried cuttings from some of my remaining begonias.

So far no success. If rooting in water or moist soil doesn't work, what does?

* for the rex begonias I took two sturdy leaves before the plants were stolen because I suspected I'd lose the plants soon after I started noticing plants disappearing about every Wed/ Thursday morning. Those leaves are putting up pups along the stem or starting to root.