This is amazing. I just compared the growth now, 12 days later, of the B. pteridiformis above. i'll try to start a thread on that species at some point soon. This illustrates pretty clearly why I'm so optimistic about the growth of that species.

Left and right are the same plant, take 12 days apart!

And this is what it looked like January 1st. Again, this is all the same plant:

I would love to have these babies! I can definitely post follow ups ... I didn’t think of those small zip lock bags for the leaf cuttings- clever! I’m scheduled back home Feb 19th..

This sounds so fun! How newbie-friendly is an experiment like this? I only have a couple of begonias -- an angel-wing and a rex -- as most of my space is dedicated to African Violets. If this isn't something advanced I'd love to try, but I don't want to waste something that'd be better off in the hands of a pro. :) The red hairs are wicked awesome!

Lorabell--I will save one for you. Tiffu, I think these are pretty easy from this stage, certainly easier than seeds (and I don't mean to suggests those are difficult). If you grow Gesneriads, and are interested in trying a Streptocarpus propagated this way, I can include an equivalent ziploc bag with rooting cutting(s) of this one-- the hybrid 'Blue Frills'. African Violets are now considered Streptocarpus by the Taxonomists, I understand!

'Blue Frills', a young plant:

A mature plant--this one is huge:

Begonia pteridiformis is one of those examples of a "rare" plant (and I only use the term rare with some scorn as it is so overused and used to sell plants...) which is actually easy to propagate and grow. I have plenty of material, so I will start a bunch more plants. I already have quite a few, but I figure I'll use most for my purposes. . I'll send for postage a plant of some sort to whomever is interested in trying the 'Curly Fireflush' cuttings and following up with their results on this thread.

So that leaves two of the ziploc bags remaining... I could maybe find a third. So you know, there was a poll on a Facebook group on the favorite rex Begonia hybrids 'Fireflush'/'Curly Fireflush' came in #1. Ir's that nice of a plant. I just checked it's now down to #2 behind 'Escargot'. I'm ignoring the one currently at #1 which is Angel Wing Begonia, which of course is not a rex.

I do grow mainly gesneriads, although I have not yet ventured into streps. That would be awesome! The care is pretty similar from what I understand. It's actually what got me into rexes in the first place...I kept hearing over and over again that if you can grow AVs, you can grow rexes. So far, it's been right!

Okay, so this is super exciting then. YAY! I needed a spring project! :)

I would love to claim one and give this experiment a go!

If any are left, I would love to get in on this and post my growing on results. It is very kind of you to offer.

All sounds great. The next week or two will be hectic for me, to put it mildly. I'll try to get back to this as soon as possible, but I don't think there's any particular rush. Those who can reach me through Facebook (Linden, Lorabell) might find that easier. Odyssey3 I remember we were in communication a few years ago on Gardenweb.

Ahh, yes, I think we might have traded Mark!

I'd like to start sending these out now. odyssey3 and Tiffu, I will try messaging you with the Gardenweb system about the postage. If you don't hear from me, please try to contact me. Linden Reid, I'll try by FB Messenger and we can figure out timing, and lorabell should already have them. I was hoping to get a better picture... some are already showing plantlets.

I'm not finding a way to message odyssey3...

One member said you have to follow the one you want to message but that seems odd. In the past you could provide an email addy in your profile that allowed other members to contact you privately. Not sure if Houzz kept that option or not.

There are times to go private and it is hard to believe that a lot of folks prefer to blast their private addresses in a public space.

Hi Mark--I just saw this. I don't know why you could not message me but I willl try to message you.

I can't message you either. :( I just followed you in case that works. I can't believe we can no longer send PMs to each other!

Good advice to follow the person you want to PM Butch! I followed Mark4321 and then he could PM me and I could answer.

Hello ! I was just doing a search online trying to find a place to purchase a Begonia ‘Curly Fireflush’ and ran across your discussion. I was wondering what happened with the baby plants. Did anyone post photos of their progress somewhere? Who won the tiny Begonia pteridiformis? Would anyone have a scrap of Curly Fireflush propagation material left to share or sell? I have been mostly raisino baby succulents started from leaves and most recently started with baby African Violets. I would love to try begonias next and the Curly looks so unusual!

I have been remiss in posting. Mark4321 sent me some of the baggies and I lost every single plant. I am very sad about it and feel I must have done something wrong. My guess is I was too quick to place the plantlets a normal environment after they were in the constant humidity of the baggie. I am sorry to be a failure .

I’ve also been remiss in posting pics ...

Here is one of my Curly Fireflush babies...

Nancy, let mine get a bit bigger and I would be happy to share.

That would be most appreciated lorabell_gw. I am curious about the paper towel/ziplock bag method Mark4321 mentions. He says somewhere above that he explained it in another post so I will have to hunt it down. It looks like there are just pieces of cut leaves in the baggies on damp paper towels. I had no idea you could propagate from just pieces of leaf. I have only ever used whole leaves to propagate. Looks very interesting.

Here is my B. Pteridiformis. I’m about to repot- and will propagate some leaves as well. Such a gorgeous plant!!!!

It is gorgeous!

Hi! I know this is old but can you give me more details regarding this propagation method and fireflush? I want to propagate mine as well. curious if you have any other awesome kinds for sell? I need good begonia friends!

Hello Mark,

If you ever feel compelled to lead another Curly Fireflush experiment, please keep me in mind. I have been searching for this specimen for so long and would love to try and propagate it! Thank you and happy holidays.

Best wishes,

Natalie