Growing a Begonia from a Leaf

If you love begonias, you can actually increase your collection by propagating more from just one leaf. Known as the leaf-vein method of propagation, begonias can be propagated using this method at any time during the year. You can even do this in the winter when you are bemoaning the fact that you cannot go outdoors and garden. The only stipulation is that you keep your leaf (or leaves) in an area that is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

You will need a shallow pot that is wide enough to accommodate your leaf -- about 6-inches or more wide. Fill the pot with a light potting mixture made of either moist perlite or vermiculite or a mixture of half-and-half sand and peat moss. Next choose a large healthy leaf from your begonia. You do not want a leaf that is too old or too young, since neither will propagate well. Cut the stem off as close to the base of the leaf as possible. Turn the leaf over so that you are looking at the bottom side of the leaf. Use a sharp knife to cut slits perpendicular across the veins of the leaf. (Make sure that you also cut completely through the veins.) Do not make the cuts too close together. You want to be able to easily separate and repot your plantlets when they begin to appear and are ready to be moved. (You can usually get about six shoots per leaf.)

After you have made your slits, place the leaf flat (bottom-side down) on the potting mixture. Use bent paperclips or any other type of fastener to hold the leaf down. Place the pot into a clear plastic bag and seal shut using a twist tie or rubber band to create a mini-greenhouse. Set the pot in a bright spot but not in direct sunlight. (Direct sun can cook the leaf and any babies that form. For a better understanding of indoor lighting, see my article on Determining Light Levels in Your House.) When you see new plantlets starting to grow, poke holes in the plastic bag to allow air to circulate.

Within about three months, the plantlets should be about an inch tall. To transplant them into their own pot, you will first have to gently cut the baby away from the main leaf. (Plantlets form roots in the soil but still remain attached to the parent leaf.) After you have separated the plantlet from the main leaf, dig it up and transplant into a 2½-inch pot. (Fill the pot with standard potting soil.) Water well.

If you are a begonia-lover and are interested in adding a really unique begonia to your collection, see my article on Unusual Houseplants: Polka Dot Begonia.

Reference:

Horan, Anne, and Robert G. Mason, eds. Foliage Houseplants. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1988.