Begonia, a rooting houseplant: methods of propagation by leaf, in the substrate and others, useful tips for subsequent planting and care

Rooting begonias is still a fairly common practice among gardeners. In total, there are two main methods of rooting: rooting in water, or in the substrate. Do not forget that this is a rather protracted process that can last up to three weeks, although in some cases this period may increase. The process can be carried out both in spring and in autumn.

It is also worth observing certain norms when rooting, for example, cuttings cannot be placed so that they can be exposed to direct sunlight, and it is also not necessary to water too often with certain rooting methods.

Houseplant Description

Begonia is not the most common plant among flower growers, but in vain, because it loves indoor conditions, and with proper care it will delight the owner for many years (on how to grow begonia at home, read here). Specifically, begonia itself belongs to the Begoniev family, and its name was given to it by the governor of Haiti M. Begon, and if it had not been for this, this plant could have remained unknown, because Begon independently organized research in India. Begonias can be either annual or perennial. We talked about this in a separate article. Most begonias are perennial herbs. You will learn about the types of begonias in this article.

Rooting methods

As mentioned above, begonia can be rooted in two ways. We will tell you more about them.

In water

Several cuttings from 10 to 12 centimeters in size are taken, after selection all leaves and buds are cut, except for the upper ones.
It is necessary to leave 3-4 leaves on the top of the handle.
Further, all sections are processed with aloe juice, after which the stalk itself is placed in water, into which aloe juice is also added.
For every 100 milligrams of water, 20 drops of aloe juice is added.
It is advisable to place the cuttings in a container with transparent walls, so that the sun's rays better fall on the plant and in the water. Water temperature should not exceed 20 degrees Celsius.
After the appearance of the roots, the cuttings can be transplanted into the substrate, rooting takes place after about three weeks.

In the substrate

The process is exactly the same as when rooting in water, but cuttings immediately sit in the substrate. A small hole is dug in the pot, into which the cuttings are inserted. Also, the earth can be poured with water with aloe juice, diluted in the same proportion. Rooting also occurs within 3 weeks.

On a note. Rooting can be done at any time of the year, so do not bother with this.

Begonia. Propagated by cuttings:

Leaf

There are many ways to propagate begonias, however, a distinctive method of propagation is the ability to propagate by leaflets.

To begin with, the most healthy leaf is selected.
Next, you need to cut it into squares. Squares should not be more than two centimeters.
Further, these pieces are located on a substrate, in which peat and sand are mixed in equal parts.
Everything is covered with polyethylene film.
Ideally, two or three weeks later, the petioles should be rooted, until this point they can not only be touched, but generally removed the film.
After the expiration of a period of three weeks, in the case of rooting of the leaves, you can open the film and ventilate them, but not longer than 30 minutes, and with each ventilation time increases.

What to do after?

A transplant is required only after rooting in water. After transplantation, the following rules should be observed:

It is necessary to plant the cuttings in a deep hole, since the begonia has a very weak root system in the early stages of development.
Follow watering rules. When watering, you can not allow water to fall on the leaves - begonia does not like it.
Fertilize 2-3 weeks after planting. About how to feed begonia for abundant flowering, read here.
Give begonia the opportunity to access direct sunlight, because begonia loves them very much. This is due to, as it is not difficult to guess, the origin of the plant, since, as was said above, India is the birthplace of begonia.

Landing

Also, do not forget about a very important action, like landing. I would also like to immediately note that all these requirements are suitable for both cuttings and an adult plant. To begin with, we will describe everything in general terms.

Basically, planting any ornamental plant is troublesome, but when boarding our guest, who is also called the "unpretentious foreigner," it is worth observing strict requirements.

The roots should be treated in a special liquid for disinfection, since aloe does not kill all harmful microorganisms.
Reference. A fungicide is an excellent preparation for processing; the proportions for dissolution can be found on the packaging. Processing should take 20-40 minutes.
The pot should not be deep, since the roots will not be long in the future (read about choosing a flowerpot and begonia in a pot here). Drain must fit at the bottom of the pot. Drainage should not fill more than 10% of the pot volume.
The earth must be loose, and also have a large amount of air. You can buy such land in specialized stores. Debris such as pebbles or sticks must be removed. It is not necessary to accept the earth, the looser it is, the better. Vermiculite will not be superfluous.
Until the begonia has grown stronger, watering is carried out along the edge.
Do not cover with dishes to create a greenhouse effect.

You can read more about the rules of planting, transplanting and the subsequent care of begonias in another article.

Care

After planting an entrenched begonia, it is worth observing certain rules for caring for this plant.

The most favorable is the temperature range from 13 to 22 degrees Celsius.
However, do not forget to maintain a stable air humidity. The optimum level of humidity is 60 percent.
Since our begonia is a herbaceous species, the dormancy lasts from October to February. To transfer the plant to this state, watering is reduced and wilted shoots are cut.
Some experts advise keeping begonia tubers in the dark at a temperature of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius for up to two months.
The best growth properties are manifested when the plant is in partial shade.
Watering is done only after the top layer of the earth has completely dried.
To ensure the begonia the humidity necessary for it, the pot should be placed on a tray of water, but so that the pot is not in the water, or placed on wet peat. In order for the pot not to be in the water, pebbles are poured onto the tray, or the pot itself is set on an inverted saucer. You will find more tips on caring for begonias in a pot here, and how to help a potted plant if it fades can be found here.
Attention! If the humidity level is too high, begonia rots, so do not overdo it.
On hot summer days, the air around the begonia is sprayed, but so that water does not get on the leaves.
The room in which begonia is located must be periodically ventilated, but so that the plant itself is not blown by a draft.
Transplantation is carried out only in cases of emergency.

Summing up, I would like to say that begonia does not apply to particularly fastidious plantsdue to which it will become an excellent plant for both beginners and professional florists. Begonias themselves are very beautiful, and all the forces applied to their departure will not be in vain.

It will also be interesting for many gardeners not only to try to propagate begonias with leaves, but also to grow them from nodules on their own.