Leaf begonia cuttings just die

6 years ago

I’ve tried over and over to propagate begonias using just a leaf, but I’ve not once had one grow, they all rot after a week or so. I’ve tried then on soil under a plastic cover and under a growth light, but that doesn’t work, they just rot. I’ve read a thread on here where they teach us to try rooting them with water and covered with a plastic bag, I’ve tried this now, but for some reason my leafs start getting very shiny and then getting soft and flappy. I have those sittin on top of my fridge where they get light but no direct light. I changed the water every other day, but so far it’s not even been a week ago...Can anybody tell me what I’m doing wrong?

Featured Answer

hc mcdole

6 years ago

Make sure you take a healthy leaf and clean it with warm soapy water (not necessary but it might help clean off any germs). If it is rotting in any kind of media, it sounds like your soil bed is too wet. Personally I've come to like using Jiffy pellets as they are fairly foolproof - not 100% but then I don't always use the best leaves for cutting either. Other methods include baggies with dampened long fiber sphagnum moss, wet paper towel (never had a lot of luck with this), cone cuttings, wedge cuttings, entire leaf, etc.

Water rooting can be done but it is a small operation method - if you had to do 100's of cuttings then it would not be worthwhile. My mentor used small vials (prescription medicine vials for example) to water root her leaves. Again a tried and true method but only on a small set of leaves. I find a see through covering, whether it is a jar or a baggie, helps a lot (not so much for humidity but for keeping out pathogens).

Anyway, it may take several failures to get the hang of propagating by leaf. Once you start having success, it becomes very easy.

Jiffy Greenhouse with pellets.

seed starting mix in a lettuce container.

If I can do it, anyone can do it.

water rooting a begonia leaf many years ago in a small syrup bottle (Cracker Barrel).

Aluminum foil over a cup of water helps exclude germs but a baggie does even more protection.

or enclose the cups in a terrarium like vessel.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

hibiscus909
6 years ago
I root in water and of course a healthy leaf is best, otherwise you run the risk of rot. I make sure just the petiole is in water, not the leaf.

Over the years I have also made efforts to increase my sanitation in general - wash the pot or jar (water rooting) and use fresh clean soil. Clean your snips before cutting the leaf.
Related Professionals
Fayetteville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jacksonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Aiken Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lafayette Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Poughkeepsie Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Longview Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Trenton Landscape Contractors · Williamsport Landscape Contractors · Fresno Landscape Contractors · Magog Landscape Contractors · Fort Myers Custom Countertops · Elkton Custom Countertops · Frisco Custom Countertops · Providence Custom Countertops · Santa Fe Custom Countertops
hc mcdole
6 years ago
Leaf wedge cuttings at a pro grower's GHs.

My own Jiffy Pellet mini-GH method
Meyabug
Original Author
6 years ago
which method do you use to start with seed? I have a few seeds I took off a plant last summer and I don’t know how to start them that with give them a good chance to germinat.
hc mcdole
6 years ago
Seeds will germinate in about anything. The problem is there are hundreds (thousands?) of seeds in a seed capsule. When you sow them you will probably end up with a lot more than you expected. Once they get their true leaves, you may want to start moving them up to a bigger pot which is always a deal breaker for me as they are teeny tiny and you need the patience of Job.

Here is one I grew from seed - kind of plain.

Here are some begonia seedlings in a 3 inch cup along with a cobra fern offshoot.

another begonia from seed (I did not start the seed but finished it out from the original grower)

This is how tiny they can be - some seed must've found their way into this pot of a begonia.

another pot with seedlings (most never make it to a mature plant as I said you need lots of patience).

Here is a cane I grew from seed obtained from 'Mrs. Hashimoto' but lost it later on.

More seedlings

an idea of the tiny seed

my favorite that I grew from seed collected off my maculata (I think the male parent was Mrs. Hashimoto as both were in the same pot)
Meyabug
Original Author
6 years ago
I’m zone 5. Do you think it’s too late to start from seeds?
hc mcdole
6 years ago
You can start seeds any time of the year if you have light and some warmth. Have fun planting and trying a new way to grow begonias.
Meyabug
Original Author
6 years ago

Can you tell me the name of these?
hc mcdole
6 years ago
Those look like ones from Exotic Angels (Costa Farms). The one on the bottom may be Red Kiss and the first one I forgot. Okay it may be Spitfire (on the Exotic Angels website).

Did you get these at Lowe's or Walmart? I see lots of people abuzz with new varieties coming to Home Depot lately (again from Exotic Angels I think).

They thrived for me, outdoors that is. Harder to keep happy indoors in winter under lights.

Anyway pick up a few rexes for summer and put them in a bright spot in the yard (not full afternoon sun though) - water as needed and enjoy.
Meyabug
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes I got them from Lowe’s.

i was planning on keeping them indoors but maybe I’ll put them outdoors in summer. I’m zone 5