How to Take Cuttings From an Angel Wing Begonia
Angel wing begonia is often grown as an indoor houseplant but may also be grown as a tender perennial outdoors. Prized for its large, strikingly veined foliage and pendulous flowers, the angel wing begonia adds an exotic look to pots or beds. You can propagate angel wing begonias from cuttings. Leaf cuttings offer the most success when propagating begonias with this method. When the cutting is done correctly and rooted properly, it offers an inexpensive way to add plants to your garden.
Combine 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite in shallow pot or dish. Water this mixture until it is evenly moist but not soggy.
- Angel wing begonia is often grown as an indoor houseplant but may also be grown as a tender perennial outdoors.
- Leaf cuttings offer the most success when propagating begonias with this method.
Cut off a mature leaf from the angel wing begonia, leaving a portion of the leaf stem attached. Choose a leaf that is healthy and shows no sign of damage. Use clean shears when taking a cutting.
Dip the leaf stem in a rooting hormone, available from garden centers. Rooting hormones encourage quick root growth on the begonia cutting.
Place the cutting in the peat and perlite mix. Insert the stem of the leaf into the mix until the bottom of the leaf is resting on the mix surface.
- Cut off a mature leaf from the angel wing begonia, leaving a portion of the leaf stem attached.
- Rooting hormones encourage quick root growth on the begonia cutting.
Place the container and cutting inside a plastic bag and seal it closed. Place the bagged cutting in warm, brightly lit room in a place that is out of direct sunlight.
Open the plastic bag after one week and check for rooting. Tug on the leaf gently. If there is some resistance then the cutting has begun to root. If not, water the potting mix to re-moisten if necessary, then reseal the bag and wait an additional week.
Fill a 3-inch diameter seedling pot with a quality potting soil. Gently pull the begonia cutting from its rooting pot and plant it in the seedling pot so that the crown of the plant is just beneath the soil surface. The crown is the area where the roots emerge from the stem piece. Place the pot in a brightly lit area and keep the soil moist at all times.
- Place the container and cutting inside a plastic bag and seal it closed.
- Gently pull the begonia cutting from its rooting pot and plant it in the seedling pot so that the crown of the plant is just beneath the soil surface.
Tip
The original leaf will likely die off once new stems and leaves appear. This is normal.
Warning
Too much moisture in the bag may cause the cutting to rot instead of root. Poke holes in the bag if the soil appears muddy or soggy.
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References
Tips
- The original leaf will likely die off once new stems and leaves appear. This is normal.
Warnings
- Too much moisture in the bag may cause the cutting to rot instead of root. Poke holes in the bag if the soil appears muddy or soggy.
Writer Bio
Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.
